Sustainable and bio-based: protein adhesive for corrugated board and wood products
Many industries are faced with the challenge of using alternative materials and developing adapted production processes – for example, the furniture industry or the packaging industry. The ‘ProWellHo’ research project of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV) is dedicated to precisely this topic. The aim is to develop plant-based protein adhesives that will meet the industry’s high performance requirements in the future while also enabling production processes that are as energy-efficient as possible.
Corrugated cardboard is a versatile material used in packaging and numerous other applications. Until now, starch-based adhesives made from corn, potatoes, wheat and, to a lesser extent, peas have been used for its production. These adhesives, in combination with the bio-based cardboard, are sustainable and do not interfere with the recycling process. On the other hand, depending on the process, a relatively high amount of energy may be required to dry the corrugated cardboard after gluing.
And this is precisely where the ‘ProWellHo’ research project of the Fraunhofer IVV, in collaboration with other research institutes and industrial partners, comes in. The approach: plant-based protein adhesives. By increasing the solids content of the adhesive formulation to at least 50 per cent and the possibility of processing at lower temperatures compared to starch adhesives, the energy requirement could be significantly reduced. If these assumptions are confirmed, protein adhesives would be an energy-saving alternative.
Event Tip: Bio-based Coatings
In the EC Short Course “Bio-based Coatings” on March 17, 2025 (online, 15:00 – 17:00 CET), you will learn about plant-based raw materials in coatings, their production, and the challenges of replacing fossil-based materials. The course provides insights into sustainable alternatives and their impact on the industry
Wood and furniture: a sustainable combination with proteins
Many large furniture stores are turning to alternative raw materials. As a result, bio-based adhesives are in demand. Furniture, windows, doors, stairs and ceiling structures must be glued solidly and permanently. Here, too, the use of plant proteins as binders could represent an alternative to petrochemical adhesives in the future. In combination with wood, a renewable raw material, the furniture of the future could be almost entirely bio-based. In this context, the research project is focusing on developing bio-based, water-based dispersion adhesives and hot-melt adhesives that are on a par with synthetic adhesives in terms of their performance.
In the first step, the project aims to develop protein adhesives with good adhesive strength and high water resistance by means of targeted protein extraction and modification, and possibly in combination with starch.
The ‘ProWellHo’ research project will run until 2026 and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR). The research results of the project could make a significant contribution to sustainability in the wood, furniture, paper and packaging industries. Perhaps we will soon be saying: plant-based protein adhesives – the promising solution for a sustainable future.
Source: Industrieverband Klebstoffe e.V. & Fraunhofer IVV
