Adhesives and sealants rarely make the headlines, yet they are a fundamental part of almost every product that consumers, businesses and industry rely on every day. From the safety of vehicles and the insulation of homes to medical devices and renewable energy, adhesives and sealants support everyday comfort, affordability and safety for European citizens. That is why the competitiveness of the sector is not just a sectoral concern: it goes to the heart of Europe’s industrial strength.
An ecosystem with proven strengths
Europe has built a strong position in chemistry and advanced materials. Companies, research centres and manufacturers operate within dense industrial networks, developing solutions together that make other sectors more innovative. Because they sit at the heart of so many value chains, adhesives and sealants act as a multiplier for innovation, competitiveness and resilience across European industries. A wind turbine blade owes its structural integrity to the adhesive bonding its two halves together. An electric vehicle battery pack designed to last more than 10 years is the result of years of co-development between vehicle manufacturer and adhesive specialist. If that knowledge and production gradually move out of Europe, so does the capacity to develop the next generation of sustainable technology here.
A position under pressure
The position of the adhesives and sealants industry is increasingly vulnerable. Global production capacity for chemicals continues to expand, including in regions where governments actively support new investment with targeted subsidies. Energy costs in Europe remain significantly higher than in most other regions. Natural gas costs four to five times more here than in the United States, and those costs ripple through the entire value chain. Furthermore, regulatory, operational and reporting demands continue to grow, compounded by overlapping national legislation and diverging definitions. For SMEs, which represent 85% of the sector, this is not an abstract concern. It is a direct cost and a brake on investment and innovation.
What the sector needs
The sector supports Europe’s high standards for chemical safety and environmental protection and calls for consistent enforcement, in particular for imported products that do not comply. What is equally needed is a regulatory framework that is predictable and coherent, and that supports innovation rather than slow it down. The 50,000 people working in the sector are part of the solution to the challenges Europe faces. Keeping that expertise anchored in Europe is not just a sectoral concern, it is central to Europe’s strategic autonomy and its ability to deliver on its own industrial and climate ambitions. For SMEs in particular, a well-functioning Single Market with harmonised rules remains essential to scaling innovation and competitiveness across Europe.
