Researchers Purdue University from have developed a new biodegradable adhesive derived from soya bean oil that matches the strength of standard glues while dissolving over time.
This innovation aims to provide a sustainable option for commercial products, packaging, and labels, potentially reducing plastic pollution and carbon emissions.
Lead researcher Jonathan Wilker suggests that this new adhesive could cut glue-related carbon emissions by as much as five times.
Inspired by the natural adhesives that mussels use to stick to rocks, Wilker and his colleagues discovered that by adding specific acids to soya bean oil, they could mimic the sticky properties found in mussel glue.
Importantly, the new soya-based glue is designed to result in harmful net CO2 emissions, as soya plants absorb carbon dioxide during their growth.
Although this glue is estimated to cost around 30 per cent more to produce than standard epoxy, it remains within an affordable range.
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