H.B. Fuller India has introduced a new food-safe adhesive under its leading Swifttak brand to meet the increasing paper straws demand. The company says the latest launch offers differentiated advantages in terms of sustainability, safety, and manufacturing efficiency.
Developed by local H.B. Fuller scientists, the new water-based technology reportedly enables improved food-safe solutions that maintain straw integrity while the consumer is enjoying a beverage, and create durable paper straws that withstand three-hour resistance in a wide range of liquids, including water, juices, soft drinks, and milk. Straws made with Swifttak adhesives meet FDA 176.170 regulatory.
“No matter if you are starting your paper straw business, expanding your portfolio from plastic to paper, or simply upgrading your technology to be high water-resistant, choosing the right adhesive is key to creating a safe, long-lasting paper straw that maintains its integrity during use and that help reduce environmental footprint,” says Harsh Gupta, IMEA managing director. “Our new Swifttak PS5600-I is really at the forefront of innovation while being plasticizer-free, and by offering more than three-hour liquid resistance and greater operational efficiencies.”
The company claims that it has advanced the adhesives grade for very fast-moving paper straw machines, taking manufacturing to a new level of efficiency and product quality. The company further says, Swifttak supports fast-setting products that are easier and cleaner to work with and cause less wear and tear on machinery allowing manufacturers to focus more on product quality and output and less on operational concerns. Additionally, as beverage brands, restaurants, and corporations make the transition from plastic to paper straws, it is important that they offer liquid-resistant, compliant, and food-safe straws made for a more sustainable future.
By leveraging its laboratory in Shirwal, near Pune, the H.B. Fuller R&D team worked closely with specialized paper and machine manufacturers to customize the formulation for high-speed paper straw production and address specific applications and equipment. Having this capability and technical knowledge based in India, allows the global company to test adhesives with manufacturers’ paper samples prior to running the adhesive on their paper straw lines, providing confidence in product performance before halting regular production to trial new material.
“The industry is steadily moving towards more eco-friendly processes and components. Adhesives, a small, yet central, actor in the change towards circularity and sustainability, are now helping manufacturers address major concerns with plastic and tackling the paper straw market needs to continue to grow in popularity and usage,” concludes Gupta.
