H.B. Fuller joins 4evergreen Alliance

The initiative brings together a diverse network of around 90 organizations and stakeholders throughout the packaging value chain to push for innovation throughout the sector and develop robust, fact-based guidelines for the future of fiber-based packaging. The alliance aims to raise the overall recycling rate of fiber-based packaging to 90 percent by 2030 and contribute to a climate-neutral and sustainable society. 

‘This is both an exciting and challenging period for the packaging industry,’ said Elizabeth Staab, global sustainability manager at H.B. Fuller. ‘Collaboration throughout the supply chain is vital if we are to achieve changes that improve the world for this generation of consumers and beyond. Sustainability is a core pillar of our business strategy at H.B. Fuller, and we are joining the 4evergreen Alliance to expand collaboration with various companies. 

We must ensure that we continue to invest in R&D projects that will deliver the scientist-designed adhesive products with the tailored high performance and low environmental impact needed to answer the challenges facing the fiber-based packaging industry both today and in the coming decades.’

A commitment to innovation and sustainability drives H.B. Fuller to prioritize technologies that fulfill increasing regulatory needs and consumer environmental awareness. In this case, adhesives are a very small, and often unseen, part of the final item of fiber-based packaging, but they are a key performance enabler. 

Fiber-based packaging is made of fibers that can have several lives by keeping in the recycling loop. During the life of that packaging, the adhesive maintains pack and brand integrity throughout the supply chain. Once the consumer discards it into the correct recycling stream, adhesives continue to perform by ensuring the fibers can be recycled into a new board and packaging of stickies. 

One recent example is the sesame sustainable fiber-based e-commerce opening tear tape. Unlike the standard plastic technology on the market, the global, patent-pending, tear tape adds fiber to the recycling stream. This technology is over 80 percent bio-based and utilizes a substrate that is responsibly and sustainably sourced, certified by PEFC (The Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). 

‘Being more sustainable can mean different things to different people. It could mean easy to recycle. Or have a low carbon footprint. Or designed using circular economy principles. But most likely, it will be a combination of all these, in addition to complying with current and possible future regulations. The environmental challenges facing the world and the subsequent demand for low environmental impact products needs a multi-faceted and collaborative approach. There simply isn’t just one solution or one company with all the answers,’ concluded Staab.