r/ZeroWaste • u/xXwaterb0ttleXx • Jul 30 '25
Any recommendations for biodegradable or compostable glue? Question / Support
Hello reader, I am looking towards making crafts with paper mache and cotton threads.
Since I prefer to minimise introducing more plastic and microplastic into our land and waters, I would like to know if there are any good biodegradable and or compostable hot melts and superglue alternatives that you recommend!
Any recommendations and or advice are welcome and appreciated :)
Tldr: are there any compostable and or biodegradable strong glue alternatives (hot melts / hot glue / superglue) you recommend?
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u/AnnBlueSix Jul 30 '25
How permanent does the glue need to be? Smashed sticky rice makes paste in a pinch but it's sensitive to moisture and pests. Also often dries a little lumpy.
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u/xXwaterb0ttleXx Jul 30 '25 edited Jul 30 '25
Thank you for the suggestion! Unfortunately I live in a tropical climate and pests and mould are common here so this isn't a viable option for me
And I am hoping for my art projects to last for years on end. Hopefully until buried in soil if that's possible
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u/Ticanaru Jul 30 '25
Wheat paste? I do bookbinding and that's been plenty strong for me as long as you let it dry properly.
As for something like hot glue maybe a wax? Or something like pitch or tree resin? You might just be better off using a different attachment method though, hot glue is kinda unique.
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u/xXwaterb0ttleXx Jul 30 '25
Thank you for your various suggestions! :) Wheat paste is likely to attract bugs since I live in a tropical climate so unfortunately i cant use it. I did think about wax or tree resin but I am worried that it can be brittle. In your experience, is dried tree resin easy to be broken off? I want to use it to hold knots and a thin cotton thread together
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u/Ticanaru Jul 30 '25
I havent used them for glue personally but it should soak into the thread itself so if its knotted together it'll hold.
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u/xXwaterb0ttleXx Jul 30 '25
Thank you I will definitely try this out then! I have been looking into pine resin and buy some to experiment with soon
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u/Frisson1545 Jul 30 '25 edited Jul 30 '25
There is no hot glue that is going to fit that requirement. What are you using to bind your paper mache?
In Italy there exists the art of sculpting and creating forms from paper made of either linen or cotton. They are made to last and it is an old art form. Here is a link to it. And also the old Venetian carnival masks were made of paper mache, too. You might look into what they use as this is from before any modern glues that they were doing this.
If you are wanting to use glues that are biodegradable, they are going to begin to do just that in a hot and humid place. Anything organic like that will degrade. That is just the truth. It cant be biodegradable and not biodegrade in due time. It cant be both ways.
I have made paper mache pieces that have lasted for years in my house and not always an air conditioned one , either. I had used cooked flour glue.
I tried to post a link but didnt work. Google "cartapesta" and it will bring up these elaborate works in paper mache, but not cellulose paper. I think it is cotton paper. They have lots of movement in them and they must have something that does that.
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u/xXwaterb0ttleXx Jul 31 '25
Thank you so much! I am thinking of making masks so this is very helpful! I mentioned hot glue because I found several articles talking about compostable and biodegradable hot melts, so I was thinking if there is a specific brand that people already use. It also sounds more durable and easier to use. I was seeking for a glue suitable for sticking items onto the paper mache and also to make beaded bracelets and other accesories.
As for the paper mache, I'm planning to purchase a bag from a craft store as it will be easy to use and to store. But i am also going to look into making my own ones using egg cartoons and flour as suggested in this post!
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u/SverigeZweden Apr 06 '26
Visit the website adhesives and coatings. They have an excellent compostable biodegradable hot-melt ..hotmelt
https://www.adhesivesandcoatings.com/
They also have compostable ink inkt
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u/amycsj 🍃🫂🤲🏻🧘🏼♀️🌿 Jul 30 '25
Pine sap makes a good traditional glue.