National Adhesives is introducing a new, high performing adhesive, ETICYCLE, for use with PET bottles to help maximise recyclability. The new adhesive disperses in hot, caustic water, so does not contaminate PET flakes during the recycling process.

Traditional hot melt adhesives used for the labelling of PET bottles give only a 12 – 30% removal from the bottle after recycling process. With new ETICYCLE 850, this is dramatically increased to 96%, ensuring clean PET flakes are collected out of the recycling process, so there is no discolouration of new PET bottles.
Performance of the adhesive is not compromised. The dispersable adhesive does not dissolve in water, or create ‘stickies’ in the recycling process.

ETICYCLE 850 also offers high performance on the production line. Compatible with traditional rubber-based hot melts, the adhesive has a low running temperature of 130-140˚C. ETICYCLE 850 is suitable for both paper and plastic labels as well as offering a choice of application methods including roll-fed, cut and stack, and even doughnut spray application.  High-tack, it ensures a secure bond, and has enough flexibility to allow for the expansion of carbonated drinks bottles.

“As the environment becomes a boardroom priority, National Adhesives is developing new adhesive solutions to help customers exceed their environmental obligations,” commented Gerard ten Bolscher, Marketing Manager Europe at National Adhesives. “ETICYCLE 850 not only hugely improve recyclability of PET bottles, but also offers high performance on a par or better than that of traditional hot melt adhesives.”

The adhesive has been tested with PET bottle recycling systems, and recently received the endorsement of approval from German-based PETCYCLE, a major plastics recycling company.

Notes to Editors

An ICI company, National Adhesives is the adhesive division of National Starch and Chemical, a global leader in adhesives, resins, speciality chemicals, electronic materials and adhesives, and speciality food and industrial starches. National Adhesives manufactures at more than 50 sites in 26 countries and supplies adhesives and related technology to a hugely diverse range of industries including packaging, furniture, paper, and foot-ware.

For more information please contact:
Rebecca Whincup or Claire Forster
Clear Communications.
T: 01666 501110
E: rwhincup@clearcommunications.co.uk / cforster@clearcommunications.co.uk