Shenzhen JF Bio Products has announced that its bio-based pressure-sensitive adhesive BALK™ has become the first product in the adhesive category to receive dual certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute, covering both commercial and home composting environments.
The certification marks a notable development for packaging systems, where adhesives have historically lagged behind substrates in meeting compostability requirements. While films, papers and rigid formats have increasingly transitioned toward compostable alternatives, adhesives used in labels, tapes and stickers have remained a persistent source of contamination in organic waste streams.
BALK™ has been developed to address this gap, with a formulation designed to fully decompose without leaving microplastics or heavy metals in soil. The dual certification confirms that the adhesive can break down not only in industrial composting facilities but also under lower-temperature conditions found in properly managed home compost systems.
This distinction is operationally significant for packaging manufacturers and brand owners targeting wider geographic markets. Industrial composting infrastructure remains unevenly distributed, particularly outside major urban centres, limiting the practical applicability of materials certified only for high-temperature processing. By contrast, home compost certification extends usability into regions without access to curbside composting, supporting broader compliance strategies and end-of-life pathways.
For converters and label producers, the development introduces a certified adhesive option that aligns with compostable substrates, enabling more consistent system-level performance. This is particularly relevant for applications where adhesive residues have previously compromised compostability claims or required separation steps.
Shenzhen JF Bio Products stated that BALK™ is available for integration into a range of applications, with custom formulations offered to meet specific performance and regulatory requirements. The company is pursuing international expansion through licensing agreements, distribution partnerships and collaborations with packaging manufacturers.
The announcement also reflects growing pressure across the packaging value chain to address “hidden” components that affect recyclability and compostability outcomes. Adhesives, inks and coatings are increasingly under scrutiny as regulators and certification bodies move toward more holistic material assessments.
The Biodegradable Products Institute, a North American authority on compostable products, has certified more than 50,000 items across packaging and foodservice categories. Its dual certification framework is intended to provide assurance that products can break down across different composting conditions while supporting the transition toward circular bio-based material systems.
For packaging stakeholders, the certification of BALK™ signals incremental progress toward fully compostable packaging solutions, where all components—structural and functional—meet consistent end-of-life criteria.
