Laser-sealed paper packaging could make glue obsolete

German researchers from Fraunhofer institutes have developed Papure, a laser-based process that seals paper packaging without glue or plastic by irradiating paper with a CO laser to convert lignin, cellulose, and other components into fusible cleavage products that act as a natural adhesive. The system analyzes paper chemistry to identify sealable types, then tunes laser intensity and seam design; in tests, a 2 cm seal is strong enough to support 44 pounds, and a lab-scale unit is being built to reach about 10 packages per minute by September.