Flexing Its “Mussels” with Soy: Columbia’s Milestone Moment

This year, Columbia is celebrating a milestone achievement: 20 years of PureBond® formaldehyde-free innovation and the production of its 200 millionth no-added-formaldehyde panel.

This achievement traces back to a brilliant insight sparked over a simple bowl of rice two decades ago.

A Breakthrough Over a Bowl of Tofu 

In 2000, Dr. Kaichang Li, a chemical engineering professor at Oregon State University, was exploring the unique protein chemistry that allows mussels to cling to wet, irregular surfaces at the tide line. Then, over lunch, an idea struck.

As Dr. Li himself describes, “I suddenly realized while eating lunch that tofu has a lot of protein. Can we turn soy protein into a mussel-protein-like adhesive for bonding wood?” 

His inspiration from eating tofu that day eventually enabled him to invent a strong, affordable, formaldehyde-free, soy flour-based adhesive that could replace urea formaldehyde resins. 

His invention, combined with years of collaboration and effort, has reshaped much of the fundamental chemistry of decorative plywood assembly across North America. 

Dr. Li’s innovation was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the 2007 Green Chemistry Challenge: Greener Synthetic Pathways Award. It continues to make an impact today, with over 60% of North America’s industry capacity now using soy protein assembly processes.

 

Nature’s Design, Reimagined 

The science behind PureBond® is a case of biomimicry — a concept where scientists take chemical design cues from nature to solve real-world problems. Bivalve mollusks, like mussels, adhere to rocks by excreting byssal (or byssus) threads from a gland in the foot. Dr Li studied how these strong, silky protein threads help mussels bond with the wet rocks at the tide line, keeping them firmly in place.  

Transforming an Industry

Thanks to federal research grants, Dr. Li and his team at Oregon State pushed their discovery forward. By 2005, Columbia produced its first experimental PureBond® plywood panels and by the end of 2006, the company had fully transitioned its veneer core manufacturing to this revolutionary adhesive system.

The switch brought lasting benefits. Employees gained a safer work environment with reduced exposure to formaldehyde, hot-press emissions to local airsheds were greatly reduced and Columbia’s customers gained access to high-quality, affordable plywood free of added formaldehyde. 

Where to Find PureBond® Today 

Two decades later, PureBond® panels are available across North America, from Alder to Walnut, through wholesale distributors, select Home Depot® stores and fabricators in the PureBond Fabricator Network™ specializing in case goods and cabinetry.

With 200 million panels assembled, Columbia’s PureBond interior decorative panels continue to provide beauty, functionality and value for cabinet makers, furniture builders, interior architectural woodworking firms and DIYers — who together drive sustainable woodworking. And it all traces back, in part, to a moment of inspiration over a simple bowl of tofu.