Adhesives, caulks and sealants are applied in a wet state and dry or cure. During that process a carrier evaporates, leaving the solids in place. For solvent-based products, these carriers are volatile organics, that when evaporated turn into volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The effect of VOCs can be very dangerous for installers as well as homeowners. This is why many consumers and manufacturers have begun to shift towards safer products, such as water-based products, that reduce exposure to harmful VOC levels.

Adhesives are considered green based on the amount of VOCs in them. Although these restrictions are determined by the local regulations or green building organizational guidelines, below is a chart that can be used as a benchmark for green adhesives for consumer products (less than 16oz). Of course, the lower the VOCs in a product, the safer your environment becomes.

You will find that Titebond GREENchoice™ Adhesives have below the restricted VOC limits listed above. On average, our construction adhesive products have below 50g/L VOCs, a quarter of the amount as set forth by CARB. We believe in setting strict VOC limits for our products while providing maximum performance.