Most biobased adhesives are biodegradable, and thus sustainable. Another sustainable option could be recyclable adhesives.

Biodegradable adhesives are designed to break down naturally over time. These adhesives are typically made from materials like vegetable starch, which decomposes quickly in soil or water. Biodegradable adhesives are commonly used for recyclable packaging materials. They are also a good choice for applications where the adhesive needs to be removed easily, as they can be dissolved in water.

Recyclable adhesives can be remelted and collected for future use without any waste or residue. Recyclable adhesives are typically suited to bonding metals (primarily aluminium or steel) and glass. Look out for thermoplastic adhesives like EVA and PO glue to enable remelting and reuse.  In Europe, two standards verify biobased content and biodegradability – EN 16785-1 and EN 13432 respectfully.

Casein is the protein present in milk. Casein glue is composed of the acid casein lime, fungicide, and salts of sodium. It is non-toxic and biodegradable.

This adhesive is water-soluble and dries to a hard, strong, and durable bond. It is also water-resistant and can be used in a wet and cold conditions without losing its properties.

If needed, the glue can be removed by soaking in an alkaline solution. 

Such glue is easy to work with, as it can be mixed with water to create a paste-like consistency that can be easily applied to surfaces.

The process of creating this glue is nearly identical to that of making cheese and can be performed at home. You can find various recipes online. The most basic ones contain only: skimmed milk (powder), vinegar, baking soda and water. Replacing baking soda with slaked lime gives a more durable and water resistant glue.

Casein glue can be used for woodworking, paper and bookbinding. Once materials are covered with glue and pressed, the drying time will take for about 2–4 hours.

Another downside is that casein is a rather expensive material. Besides, it is  obviously not vegan.

Seed and fruit mucilage is composed of three types of polysaccharides—pectins, cellulose, and hemicelluloses—and demonstrates adhesive properties after hydration.

Rubber-based adhesives has great flexibility and are particularly suitable for bonding porous materials such as paper, leather and fabrics. On its own, natural rubber does not have any adhesive properties, so various additives and resins are added to create an adhesive material.

Rubber-based adhesives are able to withstand vibration, as well as high and low temperature conditions. They have a quick adhesion.

Soy-based adhesives are composed of natural soy flour and a natural resin resin. Such adhesives is comparable in strength and performance to urea-formaldehyde-based adhesives. They have excellent water resistance and are available in a wide range of binding strengths. Usually, they are used for wood.

They excel in applications where a strong initial bond and high peel strength are required, such as in bonding paper, cardboard, fabrics, and certain plastics.

Animal glue refers to the collagen found in skin, bones and connective tissue, left from scraps from leather production and the slaughter sector. Collagen is the main protein in mammalian connective tissue. This collagen can be used as an adhesive called technical gelatine.

Gelatine can form strong bonds with wood, paper, fabric, and even metals. But its adhesive properties can be affected by environmental factors such as humidity and temperature.

Plant-based adhesives are made from renewable materials such as starch, cellulose and vegetable oil. These adhesives are biodegradable. Plant-based adhesives can be used to bind paper, wood or textiles. Plant-based adhesives are considered to be separate from standard biodegradeables due to their general makeup.