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Sustainable PET Bottle Labeling with Hot Melt Adhesives
AJ Adhesives: Sustainability & Environmental Impact – Sustainable PET Bottle Labeling with Hot Melt Adhesives
February 18, 2026
Designing for Recyclability Without Sacrificing Performance
In the food/beverage and consumer goods packaging industry, sustainability is no longer just about lightweight packaging and recycled resins. The label, and specifically the hot melt adhesive that binds it, is playing a direct role in whether your PET bottle labeling is successfully recycled.
For manufacturers running high-speed PET labeling lines, sustainable adhesive selection must accomplish three things simultaneously:
- Secure labels through production and distribution
- Clean separation during recycling
- Verified compatibility with industry recyclability standards
Sustainable labeling with hot melt adhesives is about engineering for performance in use and responsibility at end-of-life.
This blog will cover why sustainable adhesives matter in labeling, what it means to be APR Design® recognized, and top-of-the-line H.B. Fuller and Henkel adhesives that are especially designed for excellent sustainability and performance.
Why Sustainable Adhesives Matter in PET Bottle Labeling
When PET bottles are recycled, they are ground into flakes and processed through a caustic wash system. If label adhesives do not properly wash off or disperse, they can:
- Leave residue on PET flake
- Lower recycled PET clarity
- Reduce reclaim value
- Increase contamination in the recycling stream
Sustainable hot melt labeling adhesives should be specifically engineered to remain secure on the bottle during production and distribution – yet separate appropriately during recycling.
For example, these are some of the sustainable hot melt labeling adhesives AJ Adhesives carries:
- H.B. Fuller Earthic ™ PHL4010N is a caustic washable hot melt adhesive developed for PET beverage labeling and designed to deliver excellent wash-off according to PET Cycle standards.
- Henkel TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE features alkali-dispersible capabilities that minimize adhesive residue in the PET recycling system.
From an operational perspective, these adhesives provide:
- Strong green tack
- Label security across temperature variation
- High-speed machinability
From a recyclability perspective, they are engineered to behave predictably in wash systems.
For operators, this means line efficiency and secure bonds. For purchasers and sustainability teams, this means compatibility with modern PET reclaim systems.
What APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition Actually Means
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) evaluates packaging components for technical compatibility with real recycling systems.
APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition is defined as an engineering assessment of the technical compatibility of a packaging component or complete package with today’s plastics recycling processes.
Important notes:
- The APR evaluates recyclability performance under industry-accepted criteria
- The APR confirms compatibility with recycling processes
- The APR does not automatically allow a product to be marketed as recyclable without additional considerations, such as collection access and sorting acceptance.
H.B. Fuller Earthic ™ 4010N received APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition (PDF) under the Critical Guidance pathway, demonstrating the product meets or exceeds strict recycling standards.
Henkel TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE received APR Design® for Recyclability Recognition (PDF) under the Critical Guidance pathway, demonstrating the product meets or exceeds strict recycling standards.
In practical terms, this means:
For sustainability teams:
- Both adhesives have been technically reviewed by the APR
- Both adhesives are compatible with PET recycling processes under tested conditions
For production teams:
- APR recognition does not compromise bond performance
- Both adhesives are designed for high-speed labeling and operational stability
For purchasing teams:
- Third-party recognition reduces recyclability risk
- Documentation supports sustainability reporting and regulatory discussions
So, selecting an APR-recognized adhesive helps you to ensure that you are receiving high performance with accredited sustainability wins.
H.B. Fuller’s Earthic ™ 4010N
Wash-off Performance Engineered for PET Bottle Labeling
H.B. Fuller’s Earthic ™ 4010N is a caustic washable hot melt adhesive specifically developed for wrap-around labeling on PET beverage bottles.
The formulation is engineered to solve one of the most difficult challenges in sustainable labeling – delivering secure, high-speed bond performance during production while allowing clean separation during recycling.
Core Performance Characteristics:
- Excellent wash-off performance according to PET Cycle standards
- Strong green tack for immediate bond strength after application
- Adhesive flexibility to maintain label security across temperature variations
- Very light color and thermal stability, delivering a transparent appearance on the bottle
- Capability to run on very high-speed lines, supporting efficient beverage production lines
In practical terms, this means that Earthic ™ 4010N helps labels stay secure through cold-fill and carbonated beverage applications, distribution temperature swings, and bottle expansion and contraction.
All while still separating appropriately in caustic recycling wash systems.
How Earthic ™ 4010N Differentiates Itself
- Designed specifically for PET wash-off – rather than being a general-purpose hot melt adhesive, it is engineered for caustic wash removal in PET recycling streams.
- Temperature stability with flexibility – the adhesive maintains label security even with bottle expansion due to temperature changes in production and distribution, reducing edge lifting and bond stress during distribution.
- High-speed beverage line capability – the adhesive is formulated to run on high-speed lines, making it suitable for carbonated soft drink and fast-moving beverage applications where uptime is a critical factor.
What Makes Earthic ™ 4010N a Strong Choice for PET Bottle Labeling
For operators, Earthic ™ 4010N behaves like a true performance-driven production adhesive with clean machining properties, reliable flow at operating temperatures, and consistent bond formation at high speeds.
For sustainability and packaging teams, this adhesive offers documented compatibility with PET recycling systems through its APR Design® recognition.
This combination of qualities is important because many adhesives can bond aggressively, but fewer are engineered to release predictably under recycling conditions without sacrificing line efficiency.
CLICK HERE to request more information about H.B. Fuller’s Earthic™ 4010N
Henkel TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE
Alkali-Dispersible Performance for Recyclable PET Bottle Labeling
Henkel TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE is a high-performance, pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive developed for bottle labeling applications across PET and other common packaging substrates.
It is engineered to deliver strong, consistent adhesion on high-speed labeling equipment while supporting compatibility with PET recycling systems through alkali dispersibility.
Core Performance Characteristics:
- Alkali dispersible compatibility, allowing minimal adhesive residue in the PET recycling stream.
- Excellent flexibility and outstanding machining properties
- Strong adhesion across PET, PS, PE, and other substrates
- 100% solids formulation
- Compliance with FDA 21 CFR 175.105 for indirect food contact adhesives
- Recommended working temperature range of 250-325F
In practical terms, this means secure label performance across varying substrate types, environmental conditions, and line speeds – without compromising recycling compatibility.
How TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE Differentiates Itself
- Alkali dispersibility by design – the adhesive is specifically engineered to disperse appropriately in caustic wash conditions, minimizing residue in PET reclaim systems.
- Multi-substrate compatibility – adheres effectively to PET, PS, PE, and other labeling substrates, offering flexibility for manufacturers running varied product lines.
- Regulatory and recycling alignment – with FDA indirect food contact compliance and APR recognition, the adhesive supports both operational and regulatory requirements.
What makes TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE a Strong Choice for PET Bottle Labeling
For operators, TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE offers stable viscosity across operating temperatures, clean machinability on a variety of labelers, and flexible bond performance that resists cracking or edge failure.
For sustainability and packaging teams, TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE provides APR Design® recognition to confirm its technical compatibility with PET recycling processes under defined test conditions.
According to APR documentation, TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE passed PET-GC-02 testing with unprinted BOPP substrates at the equivalent of 40% coverage, demonstrating recyclability compatibility within representative labeling scenarios.
CLICK HERE to request more information about Henkel’s TECHNOMELT® EM 598 RE
How AJ Adhesives Helps You Evaluate Sustainable PET Bottle Labeling
Selecting the right adhesive is dependent on:
- Label format (wrap-around vs. pressure-sensitive)
- Substrate type
- Line speed and equipment
- Wash system conditions your target recycling markets
- Food contact requirements
At AJ Adhesives, we work with manufacturers one-on-one to:
- Evaluate PET wash-off and dispersibility requirements
- Review APR-recognized options
- Align production performance with your sustainability goals
- Validate compatibility with your specific application
Sustainable labeling is not about compromise, it’s about engineering adhesives that perform well on your line and separate cleanly at end-of-life.
Ready to find the solution for your line? Contact your AJ Adhesives representative today!
To speak with someone immediately, call: (314) 652-4583
For more information or questions, email us at: info@ajadhesives.com
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