Petroleum-based adhesives can hinder recycling because of labels on recyclable containers. Silvis Materials’ fully biodegradable cellulose adhesives, which Patty Ferreira began developing in 2014, can be produced from different plant celluloses.
MIT Startup Exchange (STEX) is supporting the testing of the product with packaging and construction companies. Ferreira expects the adhesive to reduce production emissions by up to 80% and use half as much energy as fossil-based adhesives.
Why it matters
The adhesives used on labels can affect not only the recyclability of packaging but also the operation of the recycling process. For this reason, a cellulose-based and biodegradable alternative offers more than just a new material option, particularly for packaging manufacturers; it also provides an approach to addressing recycling problems caused by labels. The ability to use different plant celluloses provides flexibility that could reduce dependence on a single raw material in production. However, the figures regarding emissions and energy use are still being presented as Ferreira’s expectations; the ongoing tests of the product with packaging and construction companies will reveal how these claims translate into practice and how suitable the product is for different areas of use.