Company insight
New planet-first packaging innovations
HB Fuller, in spite of the pandemic, has continued along its path of adhesive innovation. Resplendent with ideas and a desire to sate consumer desires for more environmentally friendly packaging, it is able to bring to market a set of products – part of the Flextra Evolution range – that are fully compostable and totally solvent-free. Wayne Eklund, the company’s research scientist, and Justine Hanlon, its marketing manager flexible materials, explain how this HB Fuller development in packaging adhesive is making industry waves.
espite the global pandemic and its scabrous impact on economies and societies across the globe, manufacturing innovation and sustainability have not been forgotten. Consumer concerns about the effect that plastic packaging has on the environment is growing, without signs of abating. Currently, flexible packaging is looking harder at integrating recyclability and compostability into all its products. This has led to a series of major innovations in the packaging formats of global converters, and now, through the latest launches and developments from leading adhesive supplier HB Fuller, there is a comprehensive way to support sustainability and compostability in packaging’s end-of-life.
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the feat considering how much time goes into the rigorous testing required to be compostable-certified. “We created the Flextra Evolution product line to deliver products that work on existing compostable substrates and equipment, and work on a variety of fill goods.”
Consumer change
The increasing environmental awareness of consumers, strict legislation and the popularised momentum behind a circular economy is significantly affecting the way we live and do business. As a result, the flexible packaging industry is focused on addressing end-of-life issues, such as recyclability and compostability. In flexible packaging, the adhesive holds
“We were able to develop our compostable solventless adhesive in just under two and a half years, which is quite the feat considering how much time goes into the rigorous testing required to be compostable-certified.”
Justine Hanlon
As Justine Hanlon, marketing manager flexible materials at HB Fuller, explains, “Like most of the market segments, we saw the increased need for sustainable solutions. And we realised that there was a gap in the adhesive packaging market for a compostable laminating adhesive for film/film and film/paper substrates. We were able to develop our compostable solventless adhesive in just under two and a half years, which is quite
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the whole structure together, and, to make the whole package compostable, the adhesive must also be compostable. It is important to highlight the vital importance of these developments. Multilayer laminates have historically not been separable in the recycling stream, meaning the whole pouch is generally disposed of. By providing a solventless adhesive that is compostable, these crucial issues are addressed.
In addition, these new compostable adhesives minimise stress on the ecosystem, reduce the cost of waste processing and keep manufacturers in front of regulatory changes. For the flexible packaging market, HB Fuller offers two compostable adhesive solutions: Flextra Evolution SF1000/XR2000 and Flextra Evolution WB1200/XR2200. Both products work seamlessly with existing equipment. In industrial composting facilities, the adhesives decompose with no toxic residue, microplastics or other pollutants. Flextra Evolution SF1000/XR2000 is a solventless compostable system that works on a variety of compostable and biodegradable film substrates, such as cellulose films and polylactic acid films, including newer barrier structures, allowing customers to create a variety of packaging types, from bar wrap to snack packaging and beyond. It also allows for sound dampening.
Can go in the ground
Flextra Evolution WB1200CP/XR2200CP, a water-based two-part system that works best with paper-to-film laminations, is fully industrial compostable according to EN13432, ASTM D6400, and is certified through the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), North America’s leading certifier of compostable products and packaging.
Both solutions have similar
performance to conventional multilayer packaging adhesives, good appearance and adhesion, and can be utilised on standard equipment.
Packaging & Converting Intelligence /
www.pci-mag.com
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