Avoiding Glued Foams to Improve Recycling, Reuse, and Repurposing Opportunities

Foam packaging often becomes difficult—or impossible—to recycle when adhesives are used to bond layers or attach components. By eliminating glued foams from your packaging design, you can simplify material recovery, enable reuse, and expand repurposing options. This resource explains why avoiding glued foams is critical for circularity and how to implement alternative solutions.

What you’ll learn in this resource:

• Why glued foams create barriers to recycling and reuse
• Environmental and cost impacts of adhesive contamination
• Design alternatives to glued foams (mechanical interlocks, heat bonding, modular inserts)
• Steps for transitioning to glue-free foam packaging
• How this change supports sustainability and compliance goals

Download the guide now to start improving recyclability and reducing waste through smarter packaging design.

FAQs

Why are glued foams hard to recycle?
Adhesives contaminate foam streams, making separation costly and often rendering the material unsuitable for mechanical recycling or repurposing.

What alternatives exist to glued foams?
Mechanical fasteners, interlocking profiles, heat welding, and modular designs can provide the same functionality without adhesives.

Does eliminating glue affect performance?
No—when designed correctly, glue-free solutions can maintain cushioning, stability, and durability while improving recyclability.