United Kingdom Hot Melt Adhesive Market Overview, 2030

The development of the United Kingdom’s hot-melt adhesives market reflects a steady progression from early adhesive technologies toward advanced, efficient, and eco-conscious bonding solutions. The journey began in the mid-20th century with pioneering innovations in synthetic and thermosetting adhesives such as Aerolite a water- and heat-resistant urea-formaldehyde adhesive employed in wartime aircraft production and Redux a phenol-formaldehyde/polyvinyl-formal adhesive for aerospace bonding which laid the groundwork for sophisticated polymer chemistry in adhesives. As industrial sectors like packaging, woodworking, and automotive expanded, demand surged for adhesives that offered rapid curing, strong adhesion, and reduced volatile organic compound emissions. In the latter decades of the century, thermoplastic hot-melt systems such as ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyurethane, and styrenic block copolymers emerged, enabling broader adoption across flexible packaging, carton sealing, construction, and goods assembly. The advent of automated production lines and the rise of e-commerce in the 21st century further accelerated the need for hot-melt adhesives that support high-speed application, precision, and operational efficiency. More recently, growing environmental awareness has driven manufacturers to develop bio-based, low-temperature, and polyurethane reactive hot melts that offer both performance and sustainability. Companies have also expanded the use of HMAs into non-woven hygiene products, electronics, and lightweight automotive assemblies. Although challenges such as raw material price variability and competition from alternative adhesive technologies persist, the UK HMA market continues to evolve, moving from basic bonding agents to a dynamic, innovation-driven sector serving modern industrial and environmental demands.

According to the research report ""United Kingdom Hot Melt Adhesives Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the United Kingdom Hot Melt Adhesives market was valued at more than USD 270 Million in 2025. In the UK adhesives sector, leading players like Henkel, Bostik (Arkema), and Synthomer are spearheading a strong sustainability shift, leveraging bio-based formulations, supply‑chain partnerships, and carbon reduction targets to align with emergent regulatory and market expectations. Henkel, for instance, is transitioning its portfolio toward renewable carbon-based raw materials and aims to offer only net‑zero or low‑emission products by 2030, while reducing its Scope 3 emissions by at least 30% and achieving carbon-neutral production facilities by that same year. In the UK specifically, Henkel’s Technomelt Supra hot-melt range now includes products with up to 98% bio-based content, and its Loctite PUR hot-melt adhesive incorporates 60% bio-based feedstock. Bostik has also launched bio-based offerings, notably the Kizen™ LIME adhesive composed of at least 80% renewable materials, with near-total carbon footprint avoidance when including biogenic carbon uptake, supported by low-temperature application systems. Meanwhile, Synthomer and Henkel are collaborating on CLIMA branded resins manufactured with renewable energy that reduce cradle-to-gate carbon footprints by at least 20%, with transparent Product Carbon Footprints measured under ISO standards and verified by TÜV SÜD. On the demand side, while comprehensive market-share data for biodegradable or low-VOC adhesives in the UK is limited, uptake is clearly growing, especially in packaging and consumer goods segments. Carbon footprint accounting tools, such as the Afera-developed TACK Kit based on ISO 14067 standards, are increasingly adopted across the industry to quantify product-level emissions and guide sustainable product design.

In the United Kingdom, the adhesives market relies on a diverse range of raw materials to meet the performance and regulatory demands of its key industries, including packaging, automotive, construction, and consumer goods. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) remains a widely used base polymer, especially in hot melt adhesives for packaging and bookbinding, due to its flexibility, fast-setting nature, and cost-effectiveness. Polyolefins, including polyethylene and polypropylene derivatives, are preferred for their chemical resistance and low moisture sensitivity, making them suitable for hygiene products, automotive interiors, and building materials. Styrenic Block Copolymers (SBC) are valued for their elasticity and clarity, commonly used in pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) and medical tapes, where performance under dynamic stress is essential. Polyurethane (PU) adhesives serve high-performance applications such as structural bonding in automotive and construction due to their strong adhesion to multiple substrates and excellent thermal and chemical resistance. These are increasingly formulated with low monomer content to meet UK REACH and health standards. Polyester-based adhesives are used where high tensile strength and chemical resistance are required, though their usage has slightly declined in favor of more flexible or eco-friendly alternatives. Polyamides, known for their high-temperature resistance and mechanical strength, are used in demanding industrial applications like electronics, textiles, and automotive under-the-hood components.

In the United Kingdom, the adhesives market is diverse and application-driven, catering to a broad range of industries with distinct performance and regulatory requirements. Packaging is a dominant sector, fueled by strong demand for food-safe, recyclable, and quick-setting adhesives, particularly in e-commerce and consumer goods, where sustainability and compliance with UK environmental standards are paramount. The automotive industry, including the expanding electric vehicle segment, requires high-performance adhesives offering structural strength, thermal resistance, and lightweight bonding solutions to meet evolving safety and efficiency criteria. In printing and publishing, adhesives support bookbinding, lamination, and labeling, with a preference for fast-curing, low-odor formulations suitable for high-speed production. The furniture and woodwork sector uses adhesives that provide strong bonds and meet indoor air quality regulations, often relying on hot melts and polyurethane adhesives. Textiles employ adhesives for lamination, bonding, and finishing, demanding flexibility and durability, especially in technical and sportswear applications. The electronics sector requires precision adhesives with thermal management and electrical insulation properties, reflecting the UK’s strong presence in high-tech manufacturing. In construction, adhesives are essential for flooring, insulation, paneling, and sealing, with a focus on durability, weather resistance, and eco-friendly formulations. Additionally, other applications such as footwear and leather goods, hygiene and nonwovens, bookbinding, and medical and healthcare products represent niche but growing segments, often requiring specialized adhesive properties like biocompatibility and high strength.

In the United Kingdom, the adhesives market is segmented by product form to meet the varied needs of industrial and consumer applications. Pellets dominate the industrial sector due to their ease of handling, consistent quality, and suitability for automated high-speed production lines. They are extensively used in packaging, automotive, and furniture manufacturing, where precise dosing and efficient melting are critical. Blocks, also known as bricks or slugs, are favored in applications requiring larger melt volumes and longer processing times, such as in construction, woodworking, and heavy manufacturing. They offer cost advantages for bulk users and are compatible with equipment designed for extended adhesive application cycles. Glue sticks primarily serve the consumer and light industrial markets, especially in office, school, crafts, and minor repair uses. Their convenient form and ease of manual application make them popular for small-scale or non-industrial bonding tasks. The others category includes liquid adhesives, films, pastes, and tapes that cater to specialized needs in electronics, medical devices, textiles, and automotive industries. These forms often require tailored application methods such as spraying, brushing, or lamination and address demands for precision, flexibility, or biocompatibility. The UK market reflects a strategic balance of adhesive forms designed to optimize performance, process efficiency, and user convenience across diverse industrial and consumer segments, while increasingly incorporating sustainability and regulatory compliance considerations into product development.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Hot Melt Adhesives Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Raw Material
• Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
• Polyolefins
• Styrenic Block Copolymers (SBC)
• Polyurethane (PU)
• Polyester
• Polyamide
• Others(Polyethylene (PE), Polyisobutylene (PIB), Rubber-Based Hot Melts, Amorphous Poly-Alpha-Olefins (APAO))

By Application
• Packaging
• Automotive
• Printing and Publishing
• Furnitures and Woodwork
• Textiles
• Electronics
• Construction
• Others (Footwear & Leather Goods, Hygiene & Nonwovens, Bookbinding, Medical & Healthcare Products)

By Product Form
• Pellets
• Blocks
• Glue Sticks
• Others Show more