Matthias Zorn
Director, R&D Adhesives and Fiber Bonding, BASF
Matthias Zorn studied Polymer Chemistry in Marburg, Mainz, and Seoul. He joined BASF in 2010, initially working in Coatings Research to enhance the performance and sustainability of emulsion polymers. He later shifted to roles in marketing and sales, concentrating on circular economy topics, particularly the recycling of multilayer packaging. Since 2024, Matthias is leading the global research team for water-based adhesives, UV hotmelts, and fiber binding materials at BASF. His team’s efforts include a strong focus on advancing sustainable solutions, including improved recyclability, compostability, biobased materials, and compliance with Green Deal requirements.
Advancing Sustainable Packaging: Insights into Home-Compostable Adhesives
In recent years, the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions has spurred significant innovation within the adhesive industry. This presentation will focus on biodegradable adhesives, with a particular emphasis on home-compostable adhesives developed by BASF. Through detailed studies conducted in various degradation environments, we aim to enhance understanding of the design characteristics of these adhesives and their impact on biodegradability across different conditions.
Key factors such as chemical structure, raw materials, hydrophilicity, and hardness were evaluated to establish a basis for predicting biodegradability in relation to official certification standards. By sharing insights from BASF’s experience in implementing these adhesives under different composting conditions, we will demonstrate the potential of compostable adhesives for specific applications and provide valuable information for stakeholders seeking to advance sustainable adhesive solutions in various sectors.
Co-authors: Ulrike Licht, Ines Pietsch, Peter Preishuber-Pflügl, Lars Heckhoff, Kresimir Cule, Andreas Künkel
Breakout VI – Adhesives for Sustainable Packaging – 11 September 2025 – 16:00 – 16:30 – Room 1