Sustainable Adhesive Formulation and Performance Evaluation of Bacterial Nanocellulose and Aloe Vera for Packaging Applications

The development of bio-based adhesives as sustainable alternatives to synthetic formulations presents a significant opportunity for advancing environmental sustainability in packaging applications. This research aimed to develop and evaluate a bio-based adhesive derived from bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), aloe vera and its mixtures as a potential replacement for commercial synthetic adhesives. Aloe vera, selected for its polysaccharide-rich composition, served as a natural polymeric matrix, while BNC contributed reinforcing properties. The adhesive formulations, with and without BNC, were compared to a commercial adhesive to assess their mechanical performance. T-peel and shear tests were conducted on smooth and rough paper substrates to evaluate adhesive strength. The bio-based adhesive incorporating BNC demonstrated superior shear and peel strength on rough substrates due to enhanced mechanical interlocking within the fibrous structure of paper, whereas performance on smooth surfaces was hindered by uneven BNC distribution, reducing adhesive-substrate interaction. Although the commercial adhesive achieved higher absolute maximum force values, the bio-based formulation exhibited comparable mechanical stability under specific conditions. These findings underscore the influence of substrate properties and application methods on adhesive performance, highlighting the potential of bio-based adhesives in packaging applications and the need for further formulation optimization to fully realize their advantages over traditional synthetic adhesives.