Many certified materials such as printing inks and paper are now available in the packaging sector. It is therefore obvious that recyclable adhesives should also be produced. Reason enough to ask Reto Stoppa, who has been selling dispersion and hot-melt adhesives for more than ten years at Alfa adhesives works to ask once.
Mr Stoppa, what role does adhesive play when it comes to sustainability in packaging?
Reto Stoppa: The sustainability of packaging has become an increasingly important topic in recent years. Accordingly, we have also addressed this issue and opted for recyclable adhesives based on the cradle-to-cradle principle in order to provide our customers with a sustainable packaging solution. Certified, recyclable packaging to make this possible.
Do you already have a recyclable adhesive solution?
Reto Stoppa: Yes. Originally initiated by a customer enquiry in 2017, we pursued this path further and, in close collaboration with the Cradle To Cradle Products Innovation Institute and EPEA Switzerland, launched the Material Health Certificate Status GOLD received. These certified adhesives bear the name Alfapura, and this series is a complete portfolio for various industries, which is expanded according to customer requirements.
What was the challenge of developing a sustainable adhesive?
Reto Stoppa: The raw material evaluation in particular presented us with a major challenge. We had no existing standards or certificates to fall back on. These were simply not available from the raw material suppliers. It was an intensive process to implement the requirements of Cradle to Cradle for the evaluation of raw materials and to obtain the necessary information from their suppliers so that the Adhesive certified as a complete product could be realised.
Recyclable adhesives in practice
For which industries can you already offer adhesive solutions?
Reto Stoppa: Initially, we focussed on adhesives for print finishing, as we also had specific enquiries in this area. However, we quickly recognised the potential for packaging adhesives and adhesives for wood bonding. At the same time, developments are underway for hygiene products such as cotton buds as well as for the textile sector. The future will show which additional and perhaps as yet unknown applications are desired by the market. We are ready to take on these challenges as well.
What will interest our producers: Do machines have to be changed in order to process recyclable adhesives?
Reto Stoppa: No, not at all. With our experience in application technology, we have optimised the compatibility of the adhesives with the standard order systems involved in the development. We are convinced that packaging manufacturers will also be able to develop a significant market advantage if they can offer certified, recyclable products.
