The sustainability of packaging is often judged by its base material. In practice, however, overall sustainability depends on how all components work together – determining whether packaging performs its function and can be recovered and recycled at end of life. Adhesives and functional coatings usually account for only a small share of the overall weight – yet their impact on recyclability, product protection and resource use is disproportionately high. Under the motto “Enabling Circularity. Reducing Footprint. With Adhesives & Coatings.” Henkel Adhesive Technologies will show at Interpack 2026, from May 7 to 13, how optimizing these elements supports a more sustainable packaging industry.
The packaging industry is under growing pressure to change – driven by expectations from brands and retailers, new design-for-recycling requirements, and the need to measurably reduce material use and emissions. At the same time, demands for product protection, food safety, process stability, and efficiency remain high. For packaging developers, this means sustainability cannot be treated as a standalone feature, but rather as a systemic challenge that must be addressed early in the design process. “The interplay between packaging structure, material, processing, and end-of-life is crucial. That is precisely why we consider these factors collectively and rely on technologies that ensure functionality while also improving recyclability and resource efficiency,” says Martin Hilgenstock, Senior Sustainability Manager Packaging Adhesives at Henkel. “We are pursuing various approaches to enable recycling-compatible packaging systems for our customers and to measurably reduce the carbon footprint across the entire value chain.”
From the lab straight to the packaging design
Adhesives and coatings designed to be recycling-compatible are an integral part of Henkel's sustainability strategy. At the Henkel Packaging Recyclab in Düsseldorf, formulations and packaging designs can be tested in accordance with recognized protocols such as Cepi/4evergreen and the CHI methodology. Henkel uses the results to further improve its own solutions and to support customers in developing recycling-compatible packaging concepts.
This testing and consulting expertise is complemented by collaboration with the cyclos-HTP Institute (CHI). The research and consulting organization specializes in recyclability assessments and certification of packaging and products using a recognized testing standard. At the Henkel booth at Interpack, visitors can learn how recyclability can be assessed transparently and improved in a targeted way. Representatives from the cyclos-HTP Institute will be on-site May 11 and 12 to answer questions.
Greater product protection with reduced resource consumption
Material efficiency also plays a crucial role in sustainability. At Interpack, Henkel is showcasing functional coatings that can simplify packaging structures. By replacing certain layers and components, these coatings enable mono-material concepts and can improve product protection. Barrier, heat seal and cold seal coatings for flexible and paper-based packaging can enhance protection and processability, extend shelf life, and help reduce product loss, resource consumption and emissions across the supply chain.
Finally, Henkel is committed to reducing CO₂ emissions – both in products and in processing. Through closely collaborating with suppliers on new raw material formulations that replace fossil-based inputs with renewable alternatives, and by integrating more energy efficient technologies, the environmental footprint of selected adhesives can be reduced already at the manufacturing stage. In application, solvent-free technologies also contribute to CO₂ reduction by eliminating the energy-intensive drying step required for solvent-based systems.
Visitors to Interpack in Düsseldorf are invited to learn how this comprehensive sustainability strategy translates into practical applications at stand D45 in Hall 10.