Biobased adhesives for circular and demountable construction
Together, we’ll make reuse the new standard
At New Circle, we’re developing an adhesive that does things differently: it’s 100% biobased and demountable. This allows building materials to be cleanly separated at the end of their life cycle and reused. No pollution, no waste.
We are carrying out this development as part of the project “Biobased Adhesives for Circular and Demountable Construction Applications,” co-funded by the European Union through the Just Transition Fund (JTF-IJmond). On this page, we’ll keep you updated on our progress.
The biggest challenge is that bonding is a problem that no one sees.
In the construction industry, adhesives are used extensively, especially on roofs. The problem is that virtually all commonly used adhesives are derived from fossil fuels. They contaminate the materials they come into contact with, making it expensive and complicated to properly separate those materials later on. As a result, valuable raw materials end up as waste instead of being used as building materials for the future.
And the challenge is immense. By 2030, some 900,000 new homes will be built, and approximately 200,000 roofs will be renovated each year (and that’s just the public sector). More than 72% of these are flat roofs. As long as there is no effective, demountable adhesive, a mountain of reusable material will remain unusable for the circular economy.
Just as strong. But demountable.
Our biobased adhesive is designed with both people and the environment in mind. It bonds just as reliably as a traditional adhesive, but with three key differences: it is biobased, demountable and therefore fully circular. This allows us to fill a gap in the market. Our competitive analysis shows that there is currently no biobased adhesive available that is also demountable. That is what sets us apart. The adhesive is widely applicable to the materials commonly found on roofs, such as bitumen, EPDM, PVC, insulation, wood, and concrete, for both flat and sloped roofs.
Stay informed
Latest project updates
Curious how far we have come with our biobased adhesive? Follow its development closely and read about the latest steps in the project here.
Questions about this project?
Find the most frequently asked questions here
Our biobased adhesive is not only completely free from fossil raw materials and harmful chemicals, but also demountable. This means that materials can easily be released and reused without any loss of quality.
Conventional construction adhesives are designed for permanent bonding and make it virtually impossible to dismantle roofing materials. The biobased adhesive that New Circle is developing can be released by heating, is free from harmful chemicals and is based on resin from the Mexican copal tree. This makes it the first adhesive for flat roof applications that is both biobased and demountable, suitable for EPDM and bitumen. The product is currently in the R&D phase, supported by the Just Transition Fund.
The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a European fund that supports regions hit hard by the shift away from fossil fuels towards sustainability. In the Netherlands, the JTF focuses on regions including IJmond, through the Kansen voor West programme. New Circle receives funding from the JTF to develop its demountable biobased adhesive for flat roofs. This R&D project combines product development with training new generations of skilled professionals, in collaboration with partners such as Nova College, AMS Institute and Biobased Innovatie Hub.
JTF-IJmond is open to SMEs with innovative projects that contribute to a climate-neutral IJmond. The subsidy covers up to 50% of the project costs. The application process runs through the Kansen voor West website and involves submitting a project idea form, an assessment by an independent committee and a financial and legal review. New Circle has been through this process itself and can advise you on the approach based on its own experience.
Several certifications are relevant for biobased roofing products, both mandatory and supporting. Mandatory certifications for the European market include DoP, MBA, TCKI and BRL 1511. Additional certifications, such as an MKI value based on an LCA and sustainability labels, strengthen a product’s market position and are often required in tenders. New Circle’s products are certified with the I’m Green Bio-Based label and meet SBB requirements. New Circle is actively working on further certification so that its products can also be used internationally.
