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Choose the Right Adhesive for Packaging Applications

Choosing the Right Adhesives for Packaging Applications

Posted 27 8月 2026 by Elizabeth Staab, HHC Product Sustainability Director

The packaging industry is one of the most visible markets for industrial adhesives. Almost everything we purchase—from baby food to e-commerce deliveries and construction materials—comes in packaging. Choosing the appropriate adhesive for packaging ensures products arrive at their destinations undamaged and, in the case of food and beverage products, safe for human consumption.

How Adhesives are Used in Packaging

Packaging products range from corrugated boxes and mailers to flexible food pouches, paper retail bags, and more. Adhesives are used to seal and secure packaging. In some cases, adhesives are also used to strengthen packaging. Manufacturers develop adhesive solutions formulated for specific uses, including:

  • Sealing cases and cartons
  • Flexible packaging for human and pet food
  • Labels for food and beverages
  • Bundling multipacks
  • Reinforcing packaging
  • Palletizing
  • Shelf-ready packaging

How Adhesives Benefit Packaging Applications

Besides keeping products safe during transit, innovative packaging adhesives allow companies to create more sustainable products. Although adhesives make up a small percentage of the total package, they still help determine a product’s end-life scenario—what happens after the customer is done with it. Adhesives that separate easily during the recycling process ensure packaging made from recyclable material can be recycled, not trashed.

H.B. Fuller is developing solutions to help packaging companies meet sustainability objectives. For example, retort technology cooks packaged food to increase its shelf-life, reducing food waste and improving food safety. H.B. Fuller’s palletizing adhesives prevent loads from shifting during transit. Replacing shrink wrap with palletizing adhesives wherever possible helps producers significantly reduce plastic usage. Multipack bundling alternatives to plastic rings, such as adhesives and cardboard holders, reduce materials that are not readily recyclable in many regions. Adhesive solutions are also critical to producing paper cups and paper straws—sustainable alternatives to the single-use plastics traditionally used in the food service industry.

Reinforcement tapes prevent heavily filled packaging from bulging, allowing packaging producers to use less corrugated material. Adhesives affix labels to any package, container, e-commerce shipment, or pallet. Specially formulated labeling adhesives easily come off returnable glass bottles to simplify reuse and enable recyclability for PET and one-way glass bottles. PET is the most recycled plastic worldwide and is used by most beverage producers.

In e-commerce, packaging adhesives improve the unboxing (opening) experience and enable reclosing to simplify returns. More convenient packaging elevates the customer experience—making customers more likely to continue to buy from a company and recommend it to friends and family. E-commerce packaging adhesives engineered to show evidence of tampering also give customers peace of mind that products remain safe during delivery.

What Packaging Applications Require of Adhesives

Generally, packaging requires adhesives with high bonding strength. In certain cases, such as palletizing, the primary requirement for adhesives is anti-slip qualities. And for other adhesives, temporary bonding is key. Adhesives must continue to perform well under mechanical stress, temperature fluctuations, pressure, and exposure to moisture. The laminating adhesives that bond plastic layers in flexible packaging must protect the goods inside from contamination, and adhesives used in multipacks and boxes must withstand stressors during transportation, storage, and stocking.

Food and beverage packaging adhesives must comply with strict food safety regulations and as an adhesive manufacturers we select raw materials carefully to ensure food safety of the packaging they are used in.

Partnering with H.B. Fuller for Packaging Adhesives

H.B. Fuller manufactures a complete line of packaging adhesives for applications such as beverage labeling, flexible packaging, case and carton sealing, and adhesive-coated tapes and strings.  We work closely with customers to develop customized solutions for their product and manufacturing challenges and meet sustainability goals. Examples of H.B. Fuller packaging adhesive solutions include:

Subscribe to our blog for more on the real-world uses of adhesives. You can also contact a specialist to explore adhesive solutions for your product’s challenges.

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