The article discusses the prevalence of petroleum-based adhesives in various applications, including construction, furniture, and packaging, where they often prevent otherwise recyclable containers from being recycled due to the glue used on labels. Patty Ferreira, CEO and co-founder of Silvis Materials, is addressing this issue by developing fully biodegradable cellulose adhesives. Ferreira’s journey began in 2014 with the modification of cellulose’s role as a stabilizer in adhesive emulsions, drawing inspiration from the adhesive properties of nanocellulose.
Silvis Materials’ current adhesive formula can utilize virtually any type of plant cellulose. The MIT Startup Exchange (STEX) is assisting the company in collaborating with packaging and construction firms to test the performance of these bio-based adhesives. Ferreira anticipates that the adoption of Silvis’s adhesive could reduce production emissions by up to 80% and require only half the energy compared to fossil-based glues. Read more at www.technologyreview.com/alumni-profiles