H.B. Fuller receives RecyClass Technology approval in Europe

H.B. Fuller Company, the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world, has had one of its latest innovations, Flextra® SBA 5250 + XA 3350, approved by RecyClass as fully compatible with the existing European industrial recycling process for Polypropylene (PP) flexibles. The adhesive is a groundbreaking pure aliphatic solution designed for ultra-food-safe high performance retort applications and enhanced recyclability.

This is the first adhesive approved for PP flexibles compatibility by RecyClass, a nonprofit, cross-industry technology exchange platform with nearly 100 member companies dedicated to improving packaging recyclability, including plastic waste and recycled plastic traceability in Europe.

H.B. Fuller’s Flextra® SBA 5250 + XA 3350 is a pioneering adhesive solution available globally. It is both a functional and sustainable solution, tailored for high-performance in retort packaging and enhanced recyclability ─ and fulfills stringent food contact regulatory requirements with FDA (177.1390) and EU compliance. The adhesive was tested and designed for retort applications up to 135°C and offers superior bonding to various films and aluminium both before and after retort.

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“Our involvement on the technical committees of RecyClass – helping to steer the development and refinement of Design for Recycling (DfR) Guidelines – has been invaluable to strengthening our knowledge of the overall flexibles recycling process and the effect various materials have on the recyclate stream,” says Elizabeth Ryne, Global Marketing Manager for flexible packaging at H.B. Fuller. “This approval signals our dedication to the circular economy and to enabling the transition to more sustainable packaging formats.”

The RecyClass initiative focuses on evaluating, improving, and recognising the recyclability of companies’ packaging solutions. It encourages the plastics industry to align with EU policies, making recyclability a central element in future packaging designs. Additionally, it fosters growth in material recycling industries and sustainable production.