Top 10 Companies in the Additives for Corrugated Adhesive Market (2026): Key Players Driving Packaging Performance

In Business Insights
January 11, 2026


The Global Additives for Corrugated Adhesive Market was valued at USD 1.58 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.15 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.5% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is propelled by the expanding e-commerce and logistics sectors, heightened demand for sustainable packaging, and the critical need for high-performance adhesives that ensure durability and efficiency in corrugated board production.

As the packaging industry evolves to meet consumer demands for stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly solutions, the role of specialized additives has become paramount. These formulation enhancers improve key adhesive properties such as tack, viscosity, drying time, and water resistance. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Additives for Corrugated Adhesive Market—a blend of global chemical giants and specialized innovators shaping the future of packaging integrity.


🔟 1. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Dispersants, Defoamers, Rheology Modifiers, Biocides

BASF is a world-leading chemical company and a major supplier of performance additives for various industrial applications, including adhesives for corrugated board. Their comprehensive portfolio is designed to enhance the processing and end-use performance of starch-based and synthetic adhesives used in packaging.

Innovation Focus:

  • Development of bio-based and renewable raw material-based additives

  • Solutions for improving wet tack and reducing adhesive consumption

  • Global R&D centers dedicated to adhesive technology

Download FREE Sample Report:
Additives for Corrugated Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Dow Chemical Company

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH), Surfactants, Dispersion Aids

Dow provides essential additives that improve the binding strength, stability, and machinability of corrugating adhesives. Their products are critical for achieving consistent bond quality in high-speed corrugator operations, especially in challenging environmental conditions.

Innovation Focus:

  • High-performance PVOH grades for superior green strength

  • Sustainability-driven innovations to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging


8️⃣ 3. Eastman Chemical Company

Headquarters: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
Key Offering: Plasticizers, Polymer Modifiers, coalescing agents

Eastman offers a range of additives that enhance the flexibility, film formation, and low-temperature performance of adhesives used in corrugated packaging. Their products help manufacturers maintain production efficiency and box integrity across diverse climates.

Innovation Focus:

  • Non-phthalate plasticizers for safer packaging

  • Additives that enable the use of recycled content in paperboard


7️⃣ 4. Evonik Industries AG

Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Key Offering: Defoamers, Crosslinkers, Specialty Silicas

Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, providing high-value additives that solve specific challenges in adhesive formulation. Their defoamers are particularly crucial for preventing air entrapment during the adhesive application process on corrugators.

Innovation Focus:

  • Silica-based additives for controlled viscosity and anti-sag properties

  • Focus on products that contribute to longer adhesive pot life

Download FREE Sample Report:
Additives for Corrugated Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Wacker Chemie AG

Headquarters: Munich, Germany
Key Offering: Vinyl Acetate Ethylene (VAE) Dispersions, Binders, Redispersible Powders

Wacker’s polymers act as key additives and binders in corrugated adhesives, significantly improving wet tack, water resistance, and bond strength on recycled papers. Their products are essential for manufacturing high-performance packaging for moist environments.

Innovation Focus:

  • Development of formaldehyde-free adhesive systems

  • Bio-based VAE dispersions for sustainable packaging solutions


5️⃣ 6. Arkema Group

Headquarters: Colombes, France
Key Offering: Biocides, Rheology Modifiers, Specialty Acrylates

Arkema provides innovative additive solutions that enhance the durability and shelf-life of corrugated adhesives. Their biocides prevent microbial degradation in starch-based adhesive systems, a common issue in humid storage conditions.

Innovation Focus:

  • High-performance acrylic additives for fast-setting adhesives

  • Global production capacity expansion for specialty additives


4️⃣ 7. Münzing Chemie GmbH

Headquarters: Heilbronn, Germany
Key Offering: Defoamers, Dispersing Agents, Surface Additives

Münzing is a globally recognized specialist in additive technology, particularly for defoaming and dispersion. Their tailored solutions help corrugators achieve flawlessly smooth adhesive application, eliminating defects and reducing waste.

Innovation Focus:

  • Silicone-based and mineral oil-free defoamer technologies

  • Additives compatible with high-starch solid adhesive formulations


3️⃣ 8. Borregaard

Headquarters: Sarpsborg, Norway
Key Offering: Lignosulfonates, Vanillin-based products

Borregaard, a leading biorefinery company, offers lignosulfonates that are widely used as extenders and dispersants in corrugated adhesives. These renewable additives improve adhesive efficiency and are a sustainable alternative to synthetic options.

Innovation Focus:

  • Utilization of sustainable wood-based raw materials

  • R&D into novel bio-based additives for enhanced performance


2️⃣ 9. Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Cellulose Ethers, Thickeners, Natural Gums

Ashland provides high-quality thickeners and water retention agents that are critical for controlling the viscosity and application properties of corrugating adhesives. Their products ensure optimal adhesive transfer and bonding on modern high-speed equipment.

Innovation Focus:

  • Precision-engineered cellulose ethers for consistent batch quality

  • Solutions that enable reduced adhesive usage without compromising strength


1️⃣ 10. Ingredion Incorporated

Headquarters: Westchester, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Specialty Starches, Dextrins

Ingredion is a key player in providing modified starches that serve as the primary component in many corrugating adhesives. Their specialty starches function as both the adhesive base and a performance additive, influencing tack, viscosity, and gelation temperature.

Innovation Focus:

  • Development of cold-water-soluble starches for energy-efficient adhesive preparation

  • Plant-based, functional native starches for clean-label packaging trends

Get Full Report Here:
Additives for Corrugated Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report


📦 Outlook: The Future of Additives is Smarter and More Sustainable

The additives for corrugated adhesive market is at a pivotal point, driven by the dual demands of operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. While traditional additives continue to dominate, the industry is rapidly adopting bio-based alternatives, multifunctional products, and smart additives that respond to production conditions.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated shift towards bio-based and biodegradable additives

  • Demand for multifunctional additives that reduce the number of raw materials needed

  • Increased need for high-performance additives compatible with recycled paper fibers

  • Rising investments in R&D for additives that enable lighter-weight packaging

Get Full Report Here:
Additives for Corrugated Adhesive Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled above are not just supplying chemicals—they are enabling the production of stronger, smarter, and more sustainable packaging that protects goods across the global supply chain.