Formaldehyde is an important base chemical used in a wide range of production processes - it would be nearly impossible to imagine life today without products made from formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde has been routinely and responsibly used for years. It is a critical material that is used in the production of hundreds of everyday products, including shampoos, plastics, carpets, clothing, resins and glues. It is also essential for many medicines and the film used to take x-rays. Formaldehyde is safely used in a wide range of everyday products – from healthcare to construction materials. For example insulation materials based on formaldehyde are indispensable for an energy efficient, low-carbon economy.

Formaldehyde is required for the production of furniture, stuffing for upholstery, household products, white fabrics, kitchen articles, sporting articles, shoes, paints and coatings, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, foam rubber, insulating, automotive components, textiles, paper, pharmaceuticals, prostheses, disinfectants and many other products.

Formaldehyde serves many purposes in many different products. It is used as a part of:
•    the glue or adhesive in pressed wood products such as particleboard, hardwood plywood, and medium density fiberboard (MDF);
•    preservatives in some paints, coatings, and cosmetics;
•    the coating that provides permanent press quality to some fabrics and draperies;
•    the finish used to coat paper products;
•    the resins to manufacture products such as dashboards for cars
•    because of its biocidal and fungicidal properties it is also used in the manufacture of disinfectants, cosmetic conservatives, pharmaceutical antiseptics, etc.

Formaldehyde is also used in vaccines as a preservative to prevent bacterial or fungal contamination that could cause serious infections. Products based on formaldehyde also play an important role for innovative and high-tech applications such as landing gear, brake pads and tire cord adhesives in the aircraft industry.