Bio-based Adhesives

Discussions about sustainable packaging tend to focus on responsible material consumption such as increased bio-based consumption. Businesses and consumers express a high interest in bio-based adhesives and Bostik already offers a large number of bio-based alternatives for multiple applications.

More about adhesives that support responsible raw material consumption through bio-based and renewable raw material content.

What are renewable and bio-based adhesives?

Arkema focuses its research efforts on renewable raw materials to create more chemicals and bioplastics with more environmental benefits, in response to the environmental concern and the depletion of fossil resources supply.

The UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns" is excellently addressed by its creative ideas. In 2016, 10% of its revenue in 2016 came from the use of renewable resources. 

Bio-based adhesives and sealants are partly or wholly derived from biomass such as vegetable oils, or natural resins. The bio-based content is the fraction of the product that is derived from biomass.

Such adhesives work towards reduced carbon footprint while efficiently bonding different substrates. At Bostik, we have bio-based adhesives to reduce stress on renewable resources and decrease carbon footprint in order to contribute towards more sustainable consumption and production.

Importance of developing bio-based Adhesives

Thanks to their reduced environmental impact and the associated independence on petroleum resources, bio-based materials are gaining more and more attention across all industries. Certain aspects associated with a lower carbon footprint, and depletion of oil resources are leading consumer behaviour towards more sustainable products. This is also true for Bostik in the field of adhesives, where its researchers are increasingly looking into renewable materials, such as biopolymers and monomers made from renewable resources.

Assessing the impacts of bio-based adhesives:

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a process of evaluating the effects that a product has on the environment over the entire period of its life thereby increasing resource-use efficiency and decreasing liabilities. It can be used to study the environmental impact of either a product or the function the product is designed to perform.LCA is commonly referred to as a "cradle-to-grave" analysis.

LCA's key elements are:

Identify and quantify the environmental loads involved; e.g., the energy and raw materials consumed, the emissions and wastes generated;
Evaluate the potential environmental impacts of these loads;
Assess the options available for reducing these environmental impacts.

It is a great analysis tool to verify that bio-based product has an environmental benefit over their entire life cycle. Further, it confirms that such products can achieve similar performance compared to current adhesives, lower VOC emissions, and promote recyclability.

Bostik featured bio-based adhesives and sealants

Here are some examples of Bostik's adhesive technologies regarding bio-based solutions:

Glass Ball technology for soft floor adhesives

Glass Ball Technology is made of micro spheres of glass in combination with specific dispersions and raw materials. This technology makes it possible to significantly reduce the density of the product while maintaining high performance. 

BOSTIK STIX A600 EVOLUTION (soft floor adhesive): a product with exceptionally low VOC emissions. It helps maintain the buildings' indoor air quality. It is made of rosin resin and plasticizers of plant origin, which together comprise about 35% of organic renewable raw materials. It enables a reduction in the consumption of raw materials made from oil, therefore lowering the overall CO2 footprint. The Glass Ball Technology  used in this product makes it possible to significantly reduce the density of the product while maintaining high performance. 

Applications:
New generation soft floor adhesives with high-performance multipurpose adhesive for all types of PVC, carpets and acoustic backing coverings.

FEATURED PRODUCT: BOSTIK STIX A600 EVOLUTION

Hot Melt Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (HMPSA)

Polymers, resins, and plasticizers are the three main basic materials used in the formulation of Hot Melt Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (HMPSA). Among the various advantages bought by HMPSA, a few features to mention are low VOC formulations to improve worker safety, exceptional tack capabilities and ability to adjust tack levels for different application needs to enhance performance, faster setup times compared to water-based adhesives, and ability to adhere to difficult substrates.

Applications: HMPSA can be used for various applications like labels, tapes, automotive substrates, flexible packaging, and absorbent hygiene.

Learn More about Hot Melt Pressure Sensitive Adhesive

FEATURED PRODUCT: TLH 9100 E

The NUPLAVIVA™ series: Bostik’s renewably sourced adhesive solutions for Hygiene products

Construction adhesives with a focus on bio-based chemicals are the first items in this series to be released, keeping with our all-encompassing approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Particularly, the formulations of Nuplaviva^TM c50 and c75 include 50% and 75% bio-sourced material, respectively.
Nuplaviva^TM i90, a hot-melt wetness indicator with 90% renewable sources, is also now available. In addition to enabling a smaller ecological footprint, it satisfies the desire for odor-free products, boosts customer happiness, and distinguishes your brand.

Applications:

Absorbent hygiene products—adult incontinence, baby care, feminine care, and other

FEATURED PRODUCT: NUPLAVIVA

Hot Melt Polyamide Adhesives (HMPA)

Hot melt polyamide adhesives are 100% non-volatile, thermoplastic adhesive resins. Supplied in pellet form and solid at room temperature, they offer beneficial characteristic properties necessary in demanding performance environments.
Before the polymer is released from the reactor, it is given time to develop specified qualities such as softening point, melt viscosity, tensile strength, flexibility, heat resistance, low-temperature impact resistance, and adhesion to particular surfaces.
Among its advantages, we have bio-based formulation to promote sustainability and reduce carbon footprint.

Applications:
Automotive filters, electronic low-pressure molding, woodworking, and various assembly solutions.

Learn More about Hot Melt Polyamide Adhesive

Specialty Hot Melts

Bostik’s innovative Specialty Hot Melt Adhesives, available in pellets, powders, webs and films, make it easy to achieve the goals of enhancing productivity, performance, durability and safety. These widely available solutions are ideal for bonding, coating, and laminating applications because they produce a strong, long-lasting bond across a variety of equipment approaches. They are based on a variety of polymers such as thermoplastic polyurethanes or copolymers.

Associated with end-of-life and recycling stream compatibility and bio-based polymers of up to 80% to improve sustainability. Bostik offers a sustainable design, as our solutions are thermoplastic, which makes it easy for debonding and recycling at the product’s end of life.

Applications:
Our powders are versatile and provide the softest hand feel available. They are suitable for coating and lamination applications as well as for binders or dispersions and are available in various particle sizes tailored to your process demands.

Learn More about Specialty Hot Melts