LOOPGLUE
Development of a water-removable adhesive derived from seaweed
When we create something, do we also design how it can be taken apart and returned? Starting from this question, we developed a seaweed-derived adhesive that combines strong bonding performance with the ability to be easily dissolved and removed with water. In conventional spatial design, adhesion has been an irreversible act. The stronger the bond, the more difficult it becomes to separate, reuse, or properly dispose of materials after use—ultimately limiting the possibility of circulation. Focusing on sodium alginate, a viscous compound extracted from seaweed—an abundant yet underutilized resource in Japan as a maritime nation—we developed a natural adhesive that firmly bonds materials such as wood and paper, while allowing for clean separation when exposed to water. By rethinking adhesion not as a technique for fixing, but as a design that inherently includes the possibility of release, LOOPGLUE proposes a new ecology of making—where creation and return coexist without contradiction.
*LOOPGLUE is a collaborative project developed by we+, Hakuten Corporation, and Cemedine Co., Ltd.
Project Details
Pruduct
Product Overview
Product Name: LOOPGLUE
Main Component: Sodium alginate
Appearance: Pale yellow, semi-transparent liquid
Primary Application: Surface finishing and bonding in wooden structures for exhibition booths
Features:
• Excellent workability in both summer and winter conditions
• Suitable for use in high-temperature and high-humidity environments
• Bonded materials can be easily disassembled with water
• Contains preservatives
Applicable Substrates: Paper, wallpaper, wood, mortar, calcium silicate board, gypsum board, etc.
Application Method: Apply to surfaces using a brush or roller coater
Distributor: Cemedine Co., Ltd.
*Patent pending
Process
