Industrial lignin transformed into a high-performance wood adhesive
28 July 2026
BindEthics Brings Ecohesive to Commercial Production, Targeting Formaldehyde-Free Wood Adhesives
1 September 2026
For decades, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles, packaging, and textile fibres have been synonymous with waste: products difficult to recycle and almost always destined for landfill. Yet today, a revolutionary adhesive is emerging from these very materials. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a reusable, versatile adhesive that even works underwater and can bond wood, glass, metal, paper, and plastic.
The inspiration comes from nature: mussels attach themselves to virtually any surface thanks to proteins that combine water-loving and water-repelling components. The researchers replicated this principle in the laboratory, creating a resin with dynamic chemical bonds capable of opening and closing on demand. The result is a glue that can be removed without damaging surfaces and reused multiple times, or even chemically broken down to fully recover the original monomers.
Its performance is impressive: shear strength comparable to widely used structural adhesives, stability at extreme temperatures down to -100°C, and the ability to function in freshwater, seawater, and acidic or alkaline environments. Applying it underwater is simple: just apply manual pressure, and the adhesive solidifies on its own.
The challenge is large-scale production
Potential applications range from industrial to everyday use. In automotive and aerospace sectors, it can bond dissimilar materials, while in consumer products it could be used for removable labels, bandages, false nails, or medical patches—in all cases, an adhesive that holds firmly but leaves no residue.
The patent has already been filed, but the real challenge will be scaling up production. The raw material is abundant: waste PET is widely available, and transforming it into glue could open the way to a virtuous cycle that combines high performance with sustainability. After decades of disposable adhesives, this new glue shows that plastics and adhesives can finally become allies.
For industry professionals, the appointment is ABS Europe 2026 – Adhesives Bonding & Sealants, the first event in Italy and the Mediterranean area dedicated to adhesives, glues, sealants, foams, tapes, resins, coatings, laminates, and films, taking place from 27 to 29 October 2026 at Vicenza Exhibition Center.
