European Wood-Based Panels Companies Talk a Lot More About Lowering Formaldehyde Emissions

European wood-based panels companies have been talking a lot more about lowering formaldehyde emissions over the past few months. These discussions have revolved around the reclassification of formaldehyde in February 2014 after a proposal by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), possible effects of this reclassification on product and production limit values, the use of new testing methods, a failed attempt to include the new E1 plus emission category, which was developed with the involvement of the wood-based panels industry, in European standards and the launch of new formaldehyde rules in the US. Against this backdrop, wood-based panels and resin manufacturers have focused more on lowering formaldehyde emissions from wood-based panels or even been searching for alternatives to formaldehyde-based adhesive systems.