Bringing Winter Sports to Life: Henkel’s Sustainable Adhesive Technologies Fulfill Green Commitments

The successful 2022 Winter Olympics have attracted audiences to winter sports and activities in the ice and snow. Due to harsh natural climates, winter sports put forward strict requirements for venues and facilities, clothing and shoes. As a world-leading adhesive solutions provider, Henkel’s Lifestyle Adhesives have provided high impact and sustainable materials for winter sport venues, building materials, apparel and footwear with its innovative technology.

Supporting Zero-Carbon, Zero-Emission Venues

State-of-art venues are the basis of successful winter sport events, but traditional construction and building components are a huge source of carbon emissions. As a trusted adhesive expert, Henkel relies on leading technology and high-quality solutions in engineered wood, furniture and building components to deliver low-carbon and environmentally-friendly adhesive solutions for winter sport event venues.

Located in Yanqing, Beijing, the National Sliding Center winds across a hillside like a flying snow dragon, and is home to China’s first ice racetrack. This project has been planned and built as a steel and wood structure because of special natural factors such as climate and terrain. The wood materials employ glue-laminated timber (GLT), a more sustainable and low-carbon building material, and is adhered with Henkel’s engineered wood adhesives with multiple national certificates. Compared with traditional alternatives, GLT stands out in load bearing and durability. Meanwhile, Henkel’s engineered wood adhesive LOCTITE HB S ensures construction quality and functionality in snowy, icy and humid environments, supporting the venue’s air quality and with zero formaldehyde and low emissions.

The National Speed Skating Oval, known as the Ice Ribbon at Olympic Park, is one of the most prominent Winter Olympics venues in Beijing. With the appearance of a ribbon-shaped crystal, the building boasts a dazzling blue wall with thousands of blue LED aluminum honeycomb panels, which utilize LOCTITE UK 3145, Henkel’s adhesives for sandwich panels. The high-bonding, high-durability, low-viscosity for application and fast setting speed empower efficiency. Moreover, 35% - 40% of the product comes from renewable bio-based ingredients, lowering the construction’s carbon footprint further and meeting the challenge to make the Ice Ribbon’s outer walls visually appealing, high-functioning, and sustainable all at the same time.

High Impact and Sustainable Athletic Gear

In response to China’s goal to get 300 million winter sport participants, more unique winter sports are quickly gaining popularity. The high standards of winter sports require high-quality equipment. Powered by its deep industrial expertise and consumer insights, Henkel has launched adhesive solutions for textile lamination, offering high impact and sustainable apparel for athletes and consumers. In outdoor gear like skiwear, its solutions retain high adhesiveness even after strong water-repellent treatments, and help materials to keep their softness after curing. In addition to shielding from water, wind, rain and snow, the material is still highly breathable, quickly ventilating moisture and ensuring exceptional experiences even in extreme weather. Henkel adhesive solutions for textile lamination have been Bluesign-certified, an authoritative recognition for its high sustainability, health and safety performance.

Henkel’s sustainable adhesive solutions for shoe production - free from benzene, toluene and xylene - are also highly regarded in the sportswear market. Its VOC-free water-based adhesives, which have surged in popularity in recent years, are effective in clean production, workers’ health, product quality and efficiency. It is also highly hydrolysis-resistant and a fit for outdoor footwear such as snow boots. Even when riding in snowy and icy conditions, athletes can keep their feet warm, dry and comfortable.

As a sustainability leader, Henkel has applied circular economy and low-carbon values across its business, aiming to “achieve more with less.” Its sustainable solutions from Henkel Lifestyle Adhesives are based on its deep thinking about sustainability and insights into production and consumer needs. With its advanced, safe, sustainable and efficient solutions, Henkel will continue to focus on key areas including low-carbon emissions, the circular economy and health and safety to shape a future that bonds the planet together.