Natural Polymers

In recent decades, the use of ever-less-polluting materials has grown thanks to consumer demand for natural products that minimize the use of petrochemicals and their derivatives. By using “green” raw materials, industry can reduce the consumption of fossil resources — and therefore the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere — and take greater responsibility for the sustainable use of natural resources.

Since the Industrial Revolution, tannins — both hydrolysable and condensed — have been used for leather tanning thanks to their ability to form insoluble complexes with animal-hide proteins and to counteract the proteolytic enzymes that alter the hide. In wood-panel adhesives, condensed tannins in particular are used, as they can form thermosetting natural resins with formaldehyde, forming strong, stable bonds that reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their environmental impact.

Silvateam has developed a range of tannins — mainly extracted from quebracho wood (Schinopsis balansae and Schinopsis lorentzii), an evergreen tree growing wild in the South American Chaco region across northeastern Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil — used for many industrial applications, such as: corrugated cardboard, foundry, wood boards, and paints & coatings.

Silvateam works with its customers to minimize the use of chemicals, streamline processes, reduce processing times, and improve the quality and performance of finished products — respecting the environment and the local communities where the Group's companies operate.