Fiber-based products, in particular paper and cardboard, play an important part in the packaging and printing industries. In addition, their bio-based origin and high recycling rates provide tangible sustainability benefits. Many fiber-based product designs, in particular in the area of packaging, would not be possible without adhesives, which are used in, for example, corrugation, bag and box making, and labelling.
FEICA recently published a paper outlining the place of adhesives in paper recycling. It considers how existing design guidelines for fiber-based products are viewed with regards to adhesives and the treatment of adhesives in test methods and assessment schemes. It also gives recommendations on the way to approach adhesives in paper and fiber-based recycling.