The European Union is moving toward more recyclable and resource-efficient packaging.

With Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) becoming applicable on 12 August 2026, packaging manufacturers and suppliers are paying closer attention to how packaging is designed, manufactured, and recycled.

For companies working with paper-based packaging, one question is becoming increasingly relevant:

What role do adhesives play in recyclable packaging?

What Is the EU PPWR?

Regulation (EU) 2025/40, commonly known as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), establishes requirements for packaging placed on the EU market.

The regulation addresses areas including packaging waste prevention, recyclability, packaging design, substances of concern, labeling, and other aspects of the packaging lifecycle.

One important direction is the move toward packaging that can be effectively recycled at scale.

This means that packaging manufacturers may need to look beyond the main packaging material itself.

Why Do Packaging Adhesives Matter?

A paper box is rarely made from paper alone.

Depending on the application, packaging can include:

• Paper or paperboard
• Printing inks
• Adhesives
• Tapes
• Labels
• Coatings and other components

Although adhesives may represent only a small part of the overall package, they are still part of the packaging system.

For this reason, adhesive selection can become an important consideration when developing packaging designed for recycling.

What Should Packaging Manufacturers Consider When Selecting Adhesives?

1. Substances of Concern

PPWR places requirements on substances of concern in packaging and introduces specific restrictions for certain substances and applications.

For adhesive suppliers, this makes transparency around product composition and relevant compliance information increasingly important.

Packaging manufacturers may therefore request documents such as technical data, safety information, regulatory statements, or relevant test reports.

2. Recyclability

Strong bonding is essential, but packaging adhesives also need to be considered from a broader perspective.

For paper-based packaging, manufacturers may want to understand whether the adhesive could affect:

• The recycling process
• Separation or processing of packaging components
• The quality of recycled materials

The exact impact depends on the adhesive chemistry, application, dosage, and packaging structure.

Therefore, recyclability should be considered as part of the overall packaging design rather than as a property of the paper alone.

3. Production Efficiency

Sustainability does not replace production requirements.

Packaging manufacturers still need adhesives that can provide:

• Reliable bonding
• Fast setting
• Consistent application
• Good machine compatibility
• Stable performance at production speeds

The challenge is finding the right balance between performance, efficiency, and environmental considerations.

Hot Melt Adhesives for Paper-Based Packaging

Hot melt adhesives continue to be widely used in packaging because they can provide fast bonding without the need for drying.

Depending on the formulation, they can be used for applications such as:

• Carton sealing
• Paper bag manufacturing
• Case and box closing
• Labeling
• Paper-to-paper bonding
• Selected paper-to-plastic packaging applications

For packaging manufacturers serving the European market, product selection is increasingly about more than bonding strength alone.

Questions around odor, VOCs, substances of concern, material efficiency, and recyclability may also become part of the technical discussion.

POSEIDON Packaging Hot Melt Adhesive Solutions

At POSEIDON, we develop environmentally conscious hot melt adhesive solutions for a wide range of packaging applications.

For food and paper-based packaging, we also offer food-contact compliant hot melt adhesive solutions designed to meet the specific requirements of suitable packaging applications.

Our packaging hot melt adhesives are developed with a focus on both reliable production performance and environmental considerations, including:

• Food-contact applications
  Suitable grades are available for packaging applications where food-contact compliance is required, subject to the specific application and regulatory requirements.
• Strong bonding
  Reliable adhesion for carton sealing, paper bags, paper-based packaging, and other demanding packaging applications.
• Efficient application
  Formulations developed for different production processes, equipment, and application speeds.
• Low odor and VOC
  Designed to support a more comfortable production environment and a better overall material profile.
• Material efficiency
  Selected low-density formulations can help reduce adhesive consumption while maintaining the required bonding performance.

At POSEIDON, we believe that packaging adhesives should do more than simply hold materials together. They should also support the evolving needs of packaging manufacturers in terms of safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

For specific projects, our technical team can evaluate adhesive selection based on the packaging material, application method, production equipment, and required compliance.

Looking Ahead

PPWR is encouraging the packaging industry to think about packaging as a whole.

It is not only about choosing recyclable paper or board.

The inks, adhesives, tapes, labels, and other components also form part of the overall packaging solution.

For adhesive suppliers and packaging manufacturers, this creates an opportunity to rethink how packaging performance and recyclability can work together.

An adhesive may be only a small part of a package, but it can still make a difference.

Regulatory note: This article provides general information about EU Regulation (EU) 2025/40 and is not intended to constitute legal or regulatory advice. Packaging manufacturers should assess their specific products and applications against the applicable EU and national requirements.