The future of printed products

Have you ever thought about what the printing industry will look like in the future? One of the questions that come to mind is whether we will be able to print in a sustainable way and help stop climate change. The printing industry is one contributing factor, using a lot of paper as well as inks and adhesives containing chemical ingredients. Many companies feel overwhelmed when trying to make their printing processes more sustainable because of all the different approaches and ecological criteria. It is our pleasure to support companies all over the world in this challenging process by providing high-quality eco-friendly adhesives that bear a Cradle-to-Cradle certificate^®. We believe in creating a future where sustainability and profitability go hand in hand in the printing and post-printing business.

Choosing an eco-friendly adhesive is important for the recyclability of your printed product: As they normally contain paper or some sort of cardboard, printed products can often be recycled. But the toxic ingredients in many of today’s adhesives, the ink or other chemicals used affect the recycling process. The water is contaminated and must be disposed of as toxic waste.

With our ALFAPURA^® adhesives, this problem can be avoided: First of all, ALFAPURA^® adhesives are water-based and free of toxic solvents. And secondly, our adhesives do not contain any harmful or hidden ingredients that could disrupt the recycling process. If the other materials used for a product fulfil this standard as well, the water applied in the recycling process can be purified and used again. And this is exactly our goal: To be part of a circular economy where there is no more waste.

Real sustainability cannot be achieved if we continue to think like a throwaway society. Therefore, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute brought to life a certification verifying the sustainability and circular capacity of a product.Because this certification focuses on a sustainability concept that takes into account social, environmental and economic perspectives, many criteria need to be fulfilled:

The whole value chain of your printed product – from the cradle of its raw materials to its recycling possibilities – is taken into account.
Our team is proud to have received the Material Health Gold certificate^® for our ALFAPURA^® line, the highest award. To this day, ALFAPURA^® is the only line of adhesives in the world to be granted this certificate. The certification process includes thorough testing of the chemicals in terms of their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects and toxicity to reproduction. Additionally, our headquarters in Rafz, where production takes place is powered to more than 70% with solar energy from our roof panels.

Products for the printing industry

We have developed a wide spectrum of products suitable for paper and cardboard and even for special requirements such as bookbinding. Our team is furthermore continuing to work hard to design new innovative adhesive solutions and launch more products every other month. All our adhesives can be applied using conventional equipment, so in most cases you can simply replace your adhesive with ALFAPURA^® and immediately continue the production. Of course, our team will support you from the very beginning until everything runs smoothly.

For the eco-friendly bookworm

ALFAPURA^® 1852 is perfectly adapted for the automatic lay flat binding of books. This water-based synthetic resin adhesive can be applied using a roller. ALFAPURA^® 1852 is known for its fast-setting behaviour while the film is almost transparent and blunt. For the specific spine gluing of thread-stitched book blocks, we developed ALFAPURA^® 1855. It is optimized for roller application with its exceptional machine running properties.

For sustainable hand-writing

ALFAPURA^® 1822 is suitable for the spine gluing of writing, note and tear-off pads. With its almost transparent film, the aesthetic of your products will still please every fan of handwriting.

It is our belief that companies need to work together to tackle challenges like climate change and environmental exploitation and find solutions that are sustainable from an ecological as well as an economical point of view. We were the first company to ever develop a water-based high-quality adhesive with instant tack for foam bonding in the 1990s, enabling thousands of companies to make their production more sustainable. Today we are proud to be the pioneer for sustainable adhesive solutions in several industries. Together with our customers and cooperation partners, we strive towards our vision of a waste-free economy.

In terms of adhesives, ALFAPURA^® is an important milestone on the way to the efficient and economical use of resources and complete recyclability. If you also believe in a sustainable future, let’s talk about how ALFAPURA^® can improve the eco-balance of your printed products. Let’s get them ready for environmentally conscious consumers as well as for a Cradle-to-Cradle certification^® if you are up to take a step closer to the future.

Secure your personal appointment
Do you need support or advice? We love to share our know-how. Schedule your appointment now!

Read more articles