Silvis Materials Makes Biodegradable Adhesives From Plant Cellulose

Petroleum-based adhesives are used almost everywhere — bonding the wood and drywall in a construction project, holding together the joints of furniture, and even sticking labels onto otherwise recyclable containers. "The labels on a container are held up with petroleum-based glue. And because of that, even though you're putting the container in the recycle bin, it will not get recycled," says Patty Ferreira, CEO and co-founder of Silvis Materials, which is addressing the problem with fully biodegradable cellulose adhesives.

Cellulose is the plant-based fiber that gives structure to the cell walls of wood, paper and other plant material, and it has long been used as a stabilizer in adhesive emulsions. Ferreira began developing bio-based adhesives from it in 2014, building on that existing role and replicating the adhesive properties already known in nanocellulose, a more expensive, finely processed form of cellulose.

The resulting formula can now make adhesives from virtually every type of plant cellulose. The MIT Startup Exchange (STEX), a program that connects MIT with startup companies, is helping Silvis Materials work with packaging and construction companies to test the adhesives.

Ferreira expects the adhesive to cut production emissions by up to 80% and to use half the energy that fossil-fuel-based glues require.