Greening the Bond: A Narrative and Systematic Literature Review on Advancing Sustainable and Non-Toxic Adhesives for the Fiberboard Industry

The fiberboard industry remains heavily reliant on synthetic, formaldehyde-based adhesives, which, despite their cost-effectiveness and strong bonding performance, present significant environmental and human health concerns due to volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. In response to growing sustainability imperatives and regulatory pressures, the development of non-toxic, renewable, and high-performance bio-based adhesives has emerged as a critical research frontier. This review, conducted through both narrative and systematic approaches, synthesizes current advances in green adhesive technologies with emphasis on lignin, tannin, starch, protein, and hybrid formulations, alongside innovative synthetic alternatives designed to eliminate formaldehyde. The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordinating Centre (EPPI) framework was applied to ensure a rigorous, transparent, and reproducible methodology, encompassing the identification of research questions, systematic searching, keywording, mapping, data extraction, and in-depth analysis. Results reveal that while bio-based adhesives are increasingly capable of approaching or matching the mechanical strength and durability of urea–formaldehyde adhesives, challenges persist in terms of water resistance, scalability, cost, and process compatibility. Hybrid systems and novel crosslinking strategies demonstrate particular promise in overcoming these limitations, paving the way toward industrial viability. The review also identifies critical research gaps, including the need for standardized testing protocols, techno-economic analysis, and life cycle assessment to ensure the sustainable implementation of these solutions. By integrating environmental, economic, and technological perspectives, this work highlights the transformative potential of green adhesives in transitioning the fiberboard sector toward a low-toxicity, carbon-conscious future. It provides a roadmap for research, policy, and industrial innovation.