New BASF adhesive certified as biodegradable by TÜV

By Guy Montague-Jones

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Carbon dioxide Biodegradation Basf

BASF has obtained certification from the German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV) for a new biodegradable adhesive used on flexible packaging applications like potato chips and chocolate wrappings.

The German chemical giant said its Epotal Eco adhesive is the first compostable water-based adhesive to be certified by the DIN Certco, a certification company of the TÜV.

This means that the product is certified as a biodegradable additive under the definition given by the European EN 13432 standard. The regulation states that substances are considered as fully biodegradable if at least 90 per cent of the organic carbon in them is converted to CO2 in no more than 180 days.

BASF said Epotal Eco achieved this milestone after only 70 days. With the help of enzymes, microorganisms are able to break down the adhesive into carbon dioxide, water and biomass, leaving no toxic residuals.

The Epotal Eco product is designed for use in the production of multilayer films for flexible packaging materials based on biodegradable plastics. BASF said possible applications include bags for potato chips or chocolate bar wrappings.

The company expects the product and others like it to take an increasingly important position in the packaging market as the industry moves in the biodegradable direction

“Biologically degradable adhesives will play a decisive role in the future when it comes to developing compostable packaging materials,”​ said Cornelis Beyers, from the BASF marketing team.

BASF spokesperson Agata Koziuk said the market for biologically degradable adhesives is not just a future one. She said: “BASF as well as DIN Certco regularly receive requests for biodegradable materials. From this we must assume that there is a strong market interest.”

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