Biodegradable and Compostable Adhesives: What Is the Difference?

Sustainability is high on the agenda in packaging, paper and product development. As a result, terms like biodegradable, compostable, industrial compostable and home compostable are used more often than ever. The challenge is that these terms are also regularly mixed up.

That creates confusion. Because while these words are related, they do not mean the same thing.

If you are developing a more sustainable packaging structure, selecting an adhesive, or comparing greener bonding technologies, it helps to start with the basics. What exactly is the difference between biodegradable and compostable adhesives? What does EN 13432 mean? And when does that distinction actually matter in practice?

On this page, we explain the terminology in a clear and practical way, so you can make better decisions for your application.

What is a biodegradable adhesive?

A biodegradable adhesive is an adhesive that can break down through biological activity over time. In simple terms, microorganisms can help convert the material into natural substances such as carbon dioxide, water and biomass.

However, there is an important nuance: biodegradable does not automatically mean that the adhesive breaks down quickly, under all conditions, or within a defined time limit.

That is exactly why the term can sometimes be too broad on its own. A product may be described as biodegradable, while the real questions still remain:

Under which conditions does it break down?
How long does it take?
What remains after degradation?
Has it been assessed against a recognized standard?

So while biodegradable is a meaningful term, it is not always specific enough for packaging projects where claims, disposal routes and compliance matter.

What is a compostable adhesive?

A compostable adhesive is also biodegradable, but under more clearly defined conditions.

That means a compostable adhesive is expected to break down in a composting environment within a specific framework, rather than simply degrading “at some point.” In practice, compostability is connected to recognized standards, testing conditions and end-of-life expectations.

So the easiest way to remember it is this:

Biodegradable = breaks down biologically, but not necessarily within fixed conditions or timeframes
Compostable = biologically breaks down under defined composting conditions within recognized standards

In other words: all compostable adhesives are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable adhesives are compostable.

For many packaging and paper projects, that difference is not a minor detail. It can affect product positioning, technical selection and communication toward customers.

What does EN 13432 mean?

EN 13432 is the European standard for packaging that must be compostable under industrial composting conditions.

This is an important distinction. EN 13432 is not just a general “green” guideline and it is not simply a broad label for biodegradable materials. It is a technical framework used in Europe to assess whether packaging materials are suitable for industrial composting.

The standard looks at criteria such as:

biodegradation
disintegration
ecotoxicity
heavy metals

These criteria help determine whether a packaging material can be processed through industrial composting without negatively affecting the composting process or the quality of the compost.

For adhesive-related projects, this matters because the adhesive is part of the total packaging structure. Even if the adhesive layer is relatively small, it can still play a role in whether the total concept supports a compostability objective.

Industrial compostable is not the same as home compostable

This is one of the most important distinctions on the page:

Industrial compostable is not the same as home compostable.

Industrial composting takes place in controlled facilities. These environments are managed for factors such as temperature, moisture, aeration and microbial activity. Home composting is much less controlled and typically operates at lower temperatures and under more variable conditions.

That means a material designed for industrial composting is not automatically suitable for home composting. The reverse is also not something you should simply assume.

In practical terms, this means that if an adhesive is described as compostable, the next question should always be:
Compostable under which conditions?

That one question already makes sustainability communication much more precise.

Why this matters in real adhesive selection

In theory, these terms may sound straightforward. In practice, they become important the moment a company wants to develop a packaging or paper structure with a better environmental profile.

An adhesive is often only one component in a larger construction. But it can still influence how credible, technically feasible or certification-ready the total solution really is. If the adhesive claim is vague while the rest of the packaging concept is highly specific, that mismatch can become a problem later in the development process.

That is why it is better to avoid treating biodegradable and compostable as interchangeable marketing terms. A more useful approach is to connect the adhesive choice to:

the full packaging structure
the intended end-of-life route
the relevant standard or framework
the technical demands of the process
the real application conditions

This is especially relevant in packaging and paper, where companies increasingly want to balance processability, performance and sustainability in one solution.

For companies specifically looking at hot melt technologies in sustainable packaging, you can also read our article on biodegradable hot melt adhesive for sustainable packaging.

When is a biodegradable adhesive enough?

A biodegradable adhesive can be a very relevant option when the goal is to improve the environmental profile of an adhesive system, reduce long-term persistence, or move toward a greener material direction.

But biodegradable does not automatically mean that the system supports an industrial compostable packaging claim. That depends on the exact application, the required standard, the structure as a whole and the intended disposal route.

So if a project only asks, “Is this adhesive biodegradable?”, that is often still too early in the conversation.

A better set of questions would be:

Is biodegradability enough for the project objective?
Does the adhesive need to align with industrial composting?
Does the full structure need to meet a standard?
Is certification part of the commercial requirement?
Does the application require food contact, heat resistance or process speed?

The more specific the project requirements are, the easier it becomes to determine whether biodegradable is sufficient — or whether compostable is the better target.

When is a compostable adhesive the better choice?

A compostable adhesive is usually more relevant when the full project is being developed with compostability in mind, especially in packaging and paper applications where industrial composting is part of the intended route.

In these situations, a general sustainability claim is no longer enough. The adhesive has to fit the broader technical and regulatory logic of the packaging concept.

That is why compostable adhesive selection is rarely just about finding a “green glue.” It is more often about finding the right balance between:

bonding performance
processability
substrate compatibility
packaging design
testing route
sustainability ambition

If you are exploring that route, you may also want to read our article on compostable biodegradable hot melt for packaging and paper.

Questions to ask before selecting a biodegradable or compostable adhesive

Before choosing an adhesive, it helps to define the project more clearly. The following questions often make the difference between a broad enquiry and a useful technical starting point:

What substrates need to be bonded?
What is the application method?
What temperatures and line speeds are involved?
Is food contact relevant?
Is the ambition biodegradable, industrial compostable or home compostable?
Does the final structure need to meet a standard?
Is the adhesive assessed on its own, or as part of the total packaging structure?

These questions help move the conversation away from vague sustainability language and toward something technically workable.

For label and tape constructions, a separate adhesive logic may apply. In that case, our page on PSA adhesive for compostable labels and tapes may also be relevant.

A practical way to look at the terminology

If you want a simple decision model, this usually helps:

Use biodegradable when the focus is on biological breakdown in general, but where no specific composting framework is necessarily the main driver.
Use compostable when the application is being developed in relation to a composting route with recognized conditions and standards.
Use industrial compostable only when that route is explicitly intended and supported by the relevant framework.
Avoid using home compostable unless that claim is genuinely applicable and has been assessed in that context.

This more careful use of language helps prevent confusion, improves communication and creates more trust with technically minded buyers.

Our view on biodegradable and compostable adhesives

At adhesives+coatings, we see strong market interest in adhesive systems that better support sustainable packaging and paper development. At the same time, we believe that clear terminology matters.

That is why we prefer to look beyond broad green claims and focus on the real project context: the substrate combination, the technical requirements, the end-of-life ambition and the role of the adhesive within the total construction.

Sometimes a biodegradable adhesive is the most suitable direction. In other cases, the project clearly points toward compostable solutions within an industrial composting framework. There is no one-size-fits-all answer — which is exactly why the terminology should stay precise.

If you are specifically interested in verified packaging solutions, you can also read about our first 100% biodegradable, compostable hot melt for packaging.

Need help finding the right adhesive direction?

Are you working on a packaging, paper or converting project and trying to determine whether a biodegradable or compostable adhesive makes more sense?

Share your substrates, application method and sustainability goal with us. Based on your project, we can help determine whether a biodegradable adhesive, an industrial compostable adhesive or another tailored bonding solution is the better fit.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable adhesives?

A biodegradable adhesive breaks down biologically over time, but not necessarily within fixed conditions or within a defined timeframe. A compostable adhesive is biodegradable under defined composting conditions within recognized standards.

2. Are all compostable adhesives biodegradable?

Yes. Compostable adhesives are a more specific category within biodegradable adhesives. Not all biodegradable adhesives qualify as compostable.

3. What does EN 13432 mean?

EN 13432 is the European standard for packaging that must be compostable under industrial composting conditions.

4. Does EN 13432 mean home compostable?

No. EN 13432 is linked to industrial composting conditions, not home composting.

5. Is industrial compostable the same as home compostable?

No. Industrial composting and home composting use different conditions, especially in temperature and process control.

6. Can a biodegradable adhesive be used in compostable packaging?

Sometimes, but not automatically. That depends on the structure, the target claim, the standard and the intended end-of-life route.

7. Why does the adhesive matter in compostable packaging?

Because the adhesive is part of the total structure and can influence how well the overall packaging concept aligns with compostability objectives.

8. When should I choose a compostable adhesive instead of a biodegradable adhesive?

Usually when the project is being developed in relation to compostability requirements, especially in industrial compostable packaging applications.

9. Can labels and tapes also use compostable adhesives?

Yes, in some cases compostable PSA systems can be relevant for labels and tapes, but the full construction and intended composting route still matter.

10. What information is needed to select the right adhesive?

Typical inputs include substrates, application method, temperature, line speed, food contact relevance, sustainability goal and whether certification is required.