Reply To: Types of glue
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Yah, no one answered that. Hard to know who in a woodworking website would know. But here is a thought from someone who is completely ignorant of the topic. If you are talking about the manufacturing of the glue, I bet hide glue is easier on the environment. Modern glues are made using modern chemistry in modern factories and involve various man made chemicals. That sort of production always has environmental impact, though I have no idea how much in this case. As I understand it, hide glue is made from otherwise not very useful bits of hide bought from tanneries. These hide fragments are treated with lime and then some sort of mild acid. Not much in the way of complex, man made chemicals there. And since the glue is made from otherwise not very useful bits of hide, its not as if animals are raised, slaughtered etc (all environmentally costly) to create the glue. So maybe it is more environmentally friendly process than the manufacture of modern glues. Though that is not certain to me.
On the other hand, I bet if you lived near a hide glue factory, the smell would be very environmentally unfriendly!