Clariant Introduces a sustainable Renewable-Carbon Hot Melt Polymer for Packaging Adhesives.

As pressures intensify across the packaging value chain, adhesive formulators are seeking solutions that reduce fossil carbon dependency without compromising performance. Clariant’s new Licocene™ Terra range addresses this need by enabling a seamless transition to renewable carbon-based hot melt polymers.

Designed as part of the established Licocene metallocene polyolefin (m-PO) portfolio, Licocene Terra integrates bio-based feedstocks using an ISCC PLUS-certified mass balance approach. The result is a drop-in solution that allows adhesive manufacturers to introduce renewable content into existing formulations while maintaining familiar processing behavior, viscosity control, and low-odor performance.

Drop-in solution for existing adhesive systems
A key advantage for converters and formulators in packaging applications is that Licocene Terra does not require reformulation. It behaves like conventional Licocene grades in terms of processing windows, compatibility, and handling, making it particularly attractive for hot melt adhesives used in:

  • Flexible packaging
  • Folding cartons and board
  • Hygiene and nonwoven applications
    This continuity enables manufacturers to meet sustainability targets without disrupting production efficiency or product performance.
Renewable carbon without process disruption

Licocene Terra achieves its sustainability profile through a mass balance system, in which renewable and fossil raw materials are processed together in existing infrastructure. The renewable share is tracked and certified throughout the value chain, ensuring transparency without the need for separate production lines.

Depending on the grade, the polymers offer a Renewable Carbon Index (RCI) starting at 50% and reaching up to 100%. Importantly, the renewable feedstock is free from palm oil derivatives and animal-based materials.

Supporting packaging sustainability goals

With increasing regulatory requirements and brand owner expectations around carbon transparency, the ability to incorporate certified renewable content is becoming a competitive differentiator in packaging.

Licocene Terra supports adhesive manufacturers in:

  • Meeting sustainability-driven tender requirements
  • Preparing for carbon disclosure and regulatory frameworks
  • Reducing reliance on fossil-based raw materials
  • Enhancing brand positioning in eco-conscious markets
  • These factors are particularly relevant in the packaging sector, where recyclability, carbon footprint, and material transparency are under growing scrutiny.
Toward more sustainable adhesive value chains

Rather than introducing entirely new chemistries, Clariant’s approach focuses on evolving proven materials. By combining established m-PO performance with renewable feedstocks, Licocene Terra enables a practical pathway toward more sustainable adhesive solutions.

For the printing and packaging industry, this represents a step forward in balancing performance, efficiency, and environmental responsibility—without compromising the reliability required in high-speed converting and production environments.

Licocene Clariant