Power Adhesives has won the Environment and Sustainability Initiative award for Tecbond 214B, its fully-certified biodegradable packaging adhesive.
Awarded by BASA at its inaugural awards ceremony, Tecbond 214B was recognised for its ability to completely break down in the continued presence of oxygen, UV light and heat, leaving behind only non-harmful products and no microplastics.
Power Adhesives was also recognised at the BASA Awards for its developing talent, with Deanna Coldwell achieving a commendation in the Young Achiever category.
Deanna has contributed to a number of projects (including the development of Tecbond 214B), but most significantly to the development and standards for Vactac, Power Adhesives’ range of hot melts formulated for use in composites production. Deanna’s input led to a breakthrough in the company’s testing, providing key insights that would not have been possible without her involvement.
Starting work at Power Adhesives as a Lab Technician fresh from university in 2022, Deanna took on her new role of Adhesives Application Engineer in January 2024 – making an impressive journey from graduate, into a lab-based technical role, to influencing product development, all in just two years.
Creating Tecbond 214B
Power Adhesives first began its R&D program to create a biodegradable adhesive in response to customer and market requests for a biodegradable packaging product, aiming to create a more environmentally conscious hot melt grade, and provide a better alternative to existing packaging adhesives.
Following detailed formulation, evaluation, and long-term testing in the laboratory and field, Tecbond 214B is certified to ASTM D6400 and EN13432 standards, which relate to biodegradation of solid material by industrial composting, and eco-toxicity in soil upon degradation, respectively.
As a packaging adhesive, Tecbond 214B is primarily formulated for use in carton and board applications. Designed to help packers and converters improve circularity and remove environmental waste, Tecbond 214B breaks downs over time after exposure to oxygen, UV light and heat.
These elements gradually degrade the adhesive’s long-chain polymers, which can eventually be consumed by microorganisms. This process is irreversible and leaves behind no waste apart from a mixture of water, carbon dioxide, and organic material. Made with 45% bio-based materials, the adhesive is the first of its kind.
Power Adhesives is continuing to set out its own ESG initiatives, including applying for ISO14001 environmental management standard, and ISO9001 occupational health and safety standard. It was awarded both in October 2023, before gaining the globally-recognised EcoVadis accreditation in September 2024.
Power Adhesives’ now uses Tecbond 214B across its own packaging wherever possible, supporting its own commitment to waste reduction.
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