Glue is a typical staple in school rooms and houses, however what precisely is it made from? Some rumors counsel the sticky substance could also be just like gelatin and use animal-derived elements. The reality is a few kinds of glue do the truth is use elements (like collagen) taken from animal elements, however your on a regular basis Elmer’s glue does not. It is purely chemical-based.
One reader, an elementary faculty trainer, wrote in after listening to a involved little one counsel glue is constituted of useless horses. The query: Are there any animal elements in Elmer’s and different glues? This reply makes an attempt to assist a trainer with a sticky state of affairs involving glitter and a roomful of 8-year-olds.
Does Glue Use Animal Components?
Query: I’m a beginner elementary faculty trainer with a fairly odd query. Final week, I tried to steer my class in a Valentine’s Day crafting free-for-all. Development paper, glitter, and all of the fixings had been distributed. The ultimate objects handed round had been little, innocuous bottles of Elmer’s Glue.
Mari, one in every of my extra precocious college students, took one have a look at her bottle and turned as white as its contents. She then shrieked like a banshee, “These things is constituted of useless horses!” and began weeping. Useless silence adopted. Then got here a refrain of cries, snickers, boisterous naying, and the form of pandemonium solely a room filled with 8-year-olds can generate. I reassured the youngsters that this was not true in any respect nevertheless it was too late. Mari’s declaration had sparked a mini glue revolt and I scrapped the mission for the day.
The factor is, I’m nicely conscious of the adage about “sending retired horses to the glue manufacturing facility,” however I at all times thought of it a foolish saying. I do know that gelatin has animal elements in it so I’m curious as to if there’s any reality behind this. Are there horse—or another animal—elements in Elmer’s and different glues?
Making an attempt to be a buddy to Mr. Ed,
—Wendy, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura
Which Glues Include Animal Components and Which Do not?
Reply: Hey Wendy,
Yikes. Children today, eh? Little Mari though on to one thing, is barely misinformed (AND appears like she has a knack for inflicting a ruckus… sorry couldn’t resist). Simply be certain to not serve her any Jell-O quickly, or your subsequent class speaker could also be a consultant from PETA.
Glue, traditionally, is certainly constituted of collagen taken from animal elements, significantly horse hooves and bones. In truth, the phrase “collagen” comes from the Greek kolla, which means glue. This observe has been occurring for 1000’s and 1000’s of years; it’s not the invention of some enterprising farmer named Elmer who had a couple of about-to-be-put-down horses on his arms, a knack for natural chemistry, and a vat of boiling water. So, sure, as disagreeable to consider as it’s, glue can include animal-based elements (these days it’s largely cattle hooves). Adhesive aficionados appear to gravitate towards fish and conceal glues. However truthfully, I’d be hard-pressed to say there are various horse-slaughtering glue operations nonetheless on the market since synthetics are a lot cheaper and more practical.
Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura
So what about that bottle of Elmer’s that despatched Mari right into a tizzy? In line with the corporate, no horse or another animal is (at the moment) harmed within the making of their product. Elmer’s Glues, like many industrial “white” glues today, are 100% chemical-based, which, relying on the way you have a look at it, is worse than reusing the physique elements of useless ungulates.
In line with Elmer’s, its glues use solely chemical substances which can be synthesized or created by man. Although the corporate does not share its actual method or particular elements, it notes that the chemical substances had been initially obtained or manufactured from petroleum, pure fuel, and different uncooked supplies present in nature.
I’m not fairly positive learn how to inform you to proceed with this, Wendy. An informative class area journey to a neighborhood rendering plant is out of the query and I wouldn’t sit down Mari down for a chat in regards to the environmental ills of petrochemicals. I can also’t think about a childhood with out good, old school Elmer’s.
Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura
Sadly, there aren’t a ton of non-synthetic, vegan glues in the marketplace, a minimum of ones which can be classroom-friendly. There are unhazardous, made-in-Italy Coccoina Adhesive Glue Sticks, however they are often expensive and arduous to return by. Plus, they scent like marzipan so any college students already susceptible to stick consuming could be tempted to snack on the craft provides.
I’d say simply give it a second strive. Children are fickle, and except Mari actually loves horses, she could have already completely forgotten about it.