Governments are beginning to take more action on rising waste volumes, and to achieve long-term climate goals. In line with these initiatives, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) was announced in early 2025, with the first legal framework published in February of that year.
From that point, product manufacturers and their distribution partners needed to begin the process of understanding what their product and transport packaging contained.
With new legislations being enforced from 12th August that focus on a reduction in certain materials, and manufacturers needing to provide a Declaration of Conformity for every packaging type entering the EU, this represents an ideal time for manufacturers, suppliers and converters to look into all their packaging components, including adhesives, and switching out materials that could threaten their ability to meet compliance criteria further down the line.
The role of adhesives – Thinking about the future
Certain packaging formats, such as tea bags, fruit stickers, and very lightweight carrier bags, must be compostable in industrial composting facilities by mid-2027. Adhesives used in these products will need to be proven compostable to maintain compliance.
And from 2035, packaging must be recyclable at scale. Meaning it’s collected, sorted, and processed in real-world recycling systems. Adhesives that contaminate recovered fibres or disrupt processing will count against recyclability scoring.
Despite making up a very small percentage of the overall packaging, adhesives play a pivotal role in recyclability or compostability of packaging, particularly under PPWR.
Currently, many adhesives used to assemble/close cartons are considered contaminants in common recycling and composting streams, as they can clog machinery, or invalidate a composting certification.
Even when adhesives are scraped from the substrate prior to recycling or composting, most are not designed to break down under naturally occurring circumstances, and end up being sent to landfill where they just sit with the rest of the waste. This is where companies are beginning to consider more eco-conscious alternatives.
It’s important to understand however, that not all “sustainable” adhesives are created equal, and not all are designed with end-of-life treatment in mind.
Adhesives claiming to be “sustainable” could fall under many different categories including:
- Bio-based – Made from biological and renewable resources.
- Biodegradable – Something that breaks down into simpler substances, under specified conditions, and can then be consumed by micro-organisms.
- Recyclable – Material that can be used again, usually after undergoing an industrial process.
- Compostable – Materials that can be used as compost upon their eventual decay.
It’s therefore important for manufacturers to do sufficient research, and understand the most likely (and appropriate) end-of-life stream their packaging will end up in, and choose the adhesive accordingly.
Biodegradable vs Recyclable: What’s the difference?
Despite both being sustainability claims, adhesives being biodegradable does not mean they’re recyclable and vice-versa.
Recyclability concerns whether a material or packaging item can enter a recycling process and be converted into usable material.
Biodegradability concerns whether a material can break down through biological processes under appropriate conditions.
Choosing a biodegradable adhesive isn’t about replacing the need for recyclable packaging. Instead, it can be considered as another way of reducing the environmental impact of the materials used within that packaging.
So why choose a biodegradable hot melt?
Adhesives are an overlooked component when manufacturers are looking for more eco-conscious methods to attain their sustainability goals and reach compliance under PPWR. If now is the time manufacturers are looking at every other component in their packaging, why should the adhesive be exempt?
Although not always recyclable, biodegradable adhesives are far less likely to contaminate recycling streams, especially if this adhesive is certified to standards that reflect a components impact in recycling processes, such as CHIRA.
Moreover, if you choose an adhesive with official certifications, it can bolster your own product and make your business more credible.
Why Tecbond biodegradable presents the ideal solution
For carton converters already using hot melts, Tecbond Biodegradable hot melt adhesives are a quick, easy solution that slot straight into established production processes. The adhesives are all based on established products in the Tecbond range, but formulated to biodegrade in naturally occurring environmental conditions.
Released in 2024, with new adhesive solutions added in 2025 and 2026 respectively, the range covers all packaging applications and machinery, from manual packaging solutions requiring a handheld glue gun, to large-scale bulk machinery where application and setting speed is crucial.
What sets the Tecbond range apart from other biodegradable options, is the certification and thorough testing conducted on them to ensure they’re compatible with PPWR legislation. These certifications include:
- ASTM D6400 – A standard specification in the United States for solid material biodegradation in industrial composting conditions. Covers plastics and product made from plastics.
- EN13432 – The European standard inclusive of ASTM D6400, as well as measuring soil and eco toxicity and disintegration.
- CHIRA – Packaging evaluation to determine material is non-impactful in fibre-based recycling processes. Conducted by Cyclos-HTP institute.
The biodegradation process begins upon exposure to UV light and oxygen. These initiate the breakdown of the long-chain polymers, giving micro-organisms the ability to consume the material as they would with natural waste.
This irreversible process only requires the consistent presence of oxygen to continue the breakdown, with the addition of heat accelerating the process. Once the adhesive has fully broken down, the only material left behind is a mixture of non-harmful products (in line with specifications tested in EN13432).
Conclusion
If PPWR is making you rethink your packaging, why stop at just the materials and coatings? Once businesses have considered whether their packaging can be recycled, they can start looking at the individual components that make up the packaging. By switching from a conventional adhesive to a biodegradable alternative, manufacturers have another opportunity to consider the environmental impact of their packaging without compromising the performance of the adhesive itself.
With regulations becoming more stringent, and the 2027 compostable products deadline fast approaching, now is the perfect time to look at how Tecbond biodegradable adhesives can keep your products compliant, and even run significant trials to make sure they’re the right fit.
