The adhesive, which is made from renewable resources, is being promoted as an economic alternative to petrochemical-based products and is being targeted at the carton industry.

The product is suitable for case, carton and carton-edge sealing and can form a drop-in replacement for most hotmelt adhesives.

It uses condensation polymer technology, enabling the product to be ASTM 6400 compostable and suitable for hydro-repulping operations for the waste paper recovery supply chain.

Papico director Andrew Dunning said the hotmelt adhesive would give carton producers and converters a competitively priced renewable bio-adhesive, enabling them to offer sustainable packaging.

He added: "The market for hotmelt adhesives has volatile pricing because it is linked to oil prices. As this product is made from renewable resources and is starch based it has a stable pricing structure. We believe it is the first truly recyclable adhesive. It is also a drop-in replacement - no adjustment is required and customers can simply switch to the new product."

Trial quantities of the hotmelt adhesive are available.