Challenge

For more than 30 years, the base chemistry of rosin esters saw no significant advances addressing its inherently darker color and stability are critical to application quality. Although petroleum-based products can provide these characteristics, they are derived from non-renewable raw materials. Their use contributes to fossil fuel depletion and additional CO2 emissions. The industry needed a renewable tackifier technology that could overcome traditional rosin ester limitations while delivering the color, stability, adhesion, and processing performance formulators require.

Innovation

Kraton developed REvolution™ technology as a step-change innovation in rosin ester catalysis, addressing both industry sustainability goals and demanding performance requirements. The technology platform enables cost-effective production of rosin esters with lighter initial color and improved oxidative stability. It provides formulators with a viable alternative to hydrocarbon-based tackifiers, allowing them to increase bio-based content and reduce reliance on fossil-based products. Resin developed with the technology retains the established functionality of rosin ester, with no compromise on adhesion, excellent performance on difficult-to-bond substrates, and best-in-class color and viscosity stability. The rosin esters are derived from pine trees harvested from responsibly managed forests. These trees are non-genetically modified and do not compete with food crops. By using renewable pine-based raw materials, REvolution™ technology helps Kraton and its customers keep the carbon earth cycle constant while combining sustainability improvements with the performance characteristics required by adhesive and road-marking applications.

Key Findings

The resin’s bio-based content is certified according to EN 16785. A third-party life cycle assessment conducted according to EN 15804 found that rosin esters based on REvolution™ technology have carbon footprint less than half that of hydrocarbon-based alternatives. Replacing 10% of hydrocarbon-based tackifiers used annually in global packaging adhesives could also avoid the consumption of 70,000 barrels of oil, an impact described as equivalent to 20,000 flights worldwide. Positive European customer recognition prompted production efforts in North America as well as Asia.