Bio just got cooler: Bio-based hot melt adhesive from Henkel helps save energy in the packaging process

The packaging industry is changing: rising CO₂ emissions, stricter regulations and increased consumer expectations require innovative answers. Bio-based materials and low-temperature adhesives are setting new standards for sustainable packaging. Henkel Adhesive Technologies now combines both technologies for the first time: The hot melt Technomelt Supra 079 Eco Cool is a bio-based product that combines 49 percent directly bio-based raw materials with 30 percent ISSC-certified mass-balanced material. It bonds folding cartons, trays and wrap-around packaging at a processing temperature that is up to 40 degrees Celsius lower.

With the new Technomelt Supra 079 Eco Cool hot melt adhesive, Henkel combines the advantages of its proven Technomelt Supra Eco and Supra Cool series. With the Supra Cool range, the manufacturer offers a portfolio of hot melts that lead to lower energy consumption thanks to reduced application temperatures. The Supra Eco range uses bio-based materials for a more sustainable packaging design. By combining both technologies in the latest development, companies can optimize the sustainability of their packaging at two points in the value chain - raw materials and processing.

Technomelt Supra 079 Eco Cool is a bio-based product that has a direct bio-based content of at least 49 percent and combines this with 30 percent ISCC-certified mass-balanced material. The ISCC certification allows to correctly allocate the volume of certified and non-certified material to the product. At the same time, the application temperature can be reduced by up to 40 degrees Celsius. In addition to lower energy consumption, there are advantages for the operating personnel: these include a lower risk of burns and reduced exposure to vapors and volatile substances.

By using Technomelt Supra 079 Eco Cool, companies can reduce their CO₂ emissions by up to 32 percent compared to a premium polyolefin-based hot melt. This saving corresponds to around 7,500 kilograms of CO₂ per year, assuming an adhesive consumption of 7 tons per year. The calculation is based on a cradle-to-gate analysis of the product's carbon footprint, excluding the use phase and end-of-life emissions. Like many non-bio-based adhesives in the Henkel portfolio, the adhesive is compatible with the paper recycling process and is certified as such by cyclos-HTP. The cyclos-HTP institute has developed a scientifically based catalog of requirements and assessments for testing and verifying the recyclability of packaging and goods.

"With Technomelt Supra 079 Eco Cool, we are addressing several trends and challenges in the packaging industry," said Nele Gering, Sustainability Manager Europe at Henkel Consumer Goods Adhesives. "Increasing regulations and consumer preferences for sustainable packaging practices and materials are putting pressure on companies to innovate in the area of sustainable packaging design. We are pleased to launch a product that is particularly suited to responsible companies: It reduces CO₂ emissions, can improve process efficiency and is fully compatible with the paper recycling process."

About cyclos-HTP
The cyclos-HTP Institute (CHI), founded in Aachen in May 2014 as a spin-off from the engineering company HTP, specializes in testing and certifying the recyclability of packaging and goods. With the development of the accredited catalog of requirements and assessments back in 2011 and the IT tool CHIRA, which was awarded the German Packaging Award 2022, CHI sets the relevant technical standards for assessing recyclability and provides differentiated solutions for ecological optimization. The shareholders of the institute are cyclos GmbH and HTP GmbH & Co. KG as well as Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. The CHI enables products to be awarded a seal of approval for their recyclability.