Henkel has unveiled Technomelt EM 335 RE, a new hot melt adhesive designed to improve the recyclability of PET bottles by enabling cleaner separation of labels during processing.
The adhesive was developed to address one of the biggest obstacles in PET recycling: residues left by conventional hot melts. Standard adhesives typically dissolve only 12–30% in the hot caustic soda bath used in recycling facilities, leaving contaminants that cause cloudiness and yellowing of PET flakes. This lowers the quality of the recycled plastic and limits its use in food-grade applications.
By contrast, Henkel’s Technomelt EM 335 RE is alkali-dispersible and can be removed by up to 98%. Adhesive residues are separated together with the label material, producing cleaner PET flakes suitable for reuse.
The development comes as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) sets binding recycling targets for the beverage industry. From 2025, single-use PET bottles must contain at least 25% recycled content, rising to 30% by 2030. Despite more than 60% of PET bottles being collected in Europe, Henkel notes that up to 11 billion more bottles could be returned to the cycle each year if recycling efficiency improved.
Technomelt EM 335 RE also brings processing benefits, according to Henkel. The hot melt adhesive bonds paper and plastic labels at speeds of up to 40,000 bottles per hour, operates at lower processing temperatures of 110–140°C to save energy and protect equipment, and is formulated without mineral oil. It also complies with food safety regulations, making it suitable for sensitive applications.
PETCYCLE, the German closed-loop recycling system, has already approved the adhesive for use, reinforcing its role in advancing circular packaging.
Henkel says the innovation helps bottlers and recyclers “reliably meet new regulatory requirements” by ensuring adhesives “only stick for as long as needed,” enabling bottle-to-bottle recycling without compromising quality.
