Updated: September 5, 2024
The growth in demand for hot melt has been stimulated by increased packaging needs across the globe. The increased demand has also led to the development of biodegradable adhesive glues to keep up with client demands while reducing the environmental impact.
New technologies allow for biodegradable adhesives that have the usual properties of hot melts but are also compostable. These eco-friendly adhesives use materials derived from renewable resources and can be broken down by bacteria and other microorganisms.
Traditional Hot Melt Vs. Eco-Friendly Glues
Traditional hot melt adhesives are petroleum based, so they are not considered environmentally friendly and compostable. The two most popular types of hot melt adhesives are ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyolefin.
- Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) adhesives - This form of hot melt works well with paper and cellulosic materials and has a wide range of formulation. These adhesives set quickly, offer strong resistance properties, and operate in a moderate range of temperatures. They are used in the packaging, converting, paper, automotive, and assembly industries.
- Polyolefin adhesives- These adhesives are made with a catalyzed metallocene base. They have excellent adhesive qualities and an even faster set speed. They service a vast range of temperatures. These adhesives are also used in the packaging converting, and assembly industries, but they are limited in their range of available formulations.
More recently, there have been developments in the adhesives industry regarding environmentally friendly hot glue for packaging. These compostable glues have been tested under ASTM conditions. As compared to traditional hot melts, these environmentally-friendly adhesives can break down into natural elements and at a much faster rate under the right conditions.
What is the difference between compostable and biodegradable adhesives?
The primary difference between something that is compostable and biodegradable is the amount of time it takes for the product to break down and the end result. Compostable products can break down into natural elements in a compost facility in a certain amount of time. On the other hand, biodegradable products may leave residue and take an extended amount of time to break down.
Biodegradation is basically just the process of nature taking its course and breaking down materials to their component parts. Many things are biodegradable, if given enough time. Plastics in particular are known to take decades or even centuries to break down naturally, but they will eventually break down into carbon dioxide, water, and a few other things. So, technically speaking, they are biodegradable.
A glue that is biodegradable will break down when placed in a landfill, but it may take an extended amount of time. Obviously, we don't want products that last forever sitting in our landfills, so it is important to take note of how long it takes for the product to biodegrade. Some products degrade in months, while others take years. When trying to be green, the less time for biodegradation the better.
A product is compostable if it can break down into nature elements in an industrial composting facility at a rate similar to other organic materials. A compostable adhesive needs to undergo certain testing in order to be called “compostable.” They generally also have to be placed in the right kind of conditions, like those found in an industrial composting facility, in order to break down at the accelerated rate. Compostable products will take much longer to break down if in a landfill, especially an "air locked" landfill where there is no oxygen.
Is Glue Biodegradable? Is it Compostable?
Traditionally, glues do not have a great reputation for being environmentally friendly, but there have been some more recent breakthroughs in this area. Now there are glues that have undergone testing to see if they meet ASTM D6400 standards. Those that do are compostable under the right conditions and biodegradable at a rate that is comparable to known compostable materials. These are the first biodegradable glues of their kind, and they come in various forms for companies looking to be more environmentally friendly.
1. Bulk Option
This biodegradable bulk hot melt adhesive comes in a 44-pound carton for companies using a lot of hot melt. Because of its large packaging size, the product is made for large-scale applications and should be stored away from direct sunlight in temperatures below 30°C.
2. Sticks
We offer both ½" environmentally friendly glue sticks for low adhesive outputs and ⅝" biodegradable glue sticks for high adhesive outputs. The ½" sticks are great for more precise applications and smaller packaging needs. In contrast, the ⅝" sticks are better for use with heavier substrates or larger materials.
3. Slugs
These environmentally friendly glue slugs are made for high-volume, industrial packaging applications. They come in 1¾ inch (or 43 mm) pale amber slugs in a 22-pound case.
If you are not sure which product to use or just want to learn more about compostable and biodegradable adhesive glue, we want to help. Reach out to us today to speak with an adhesive expert.
