Carla Soares
R&D Manager, H.B. Fuller Isar Rakoll SA
Carla Soares is a R&D Manager for WB/ Polymer based in Mindelo, Portugal, with deep expertise in emulsion polymers and water-based adhesives across diverse markets such as woodworking, bottle labeling, tapes & labels between others.
At H.B. Fuller, she currently leads global initiatives focused on developing innovative barrier coating solutions that enable more sustainable paper packaging.
Carla and her team are dedicated to the ideation, development, and commercialization of high-impact technologies. She played a key role in the development and launch of H.B. Fuller’s Barrier Coatings portfolio, leveraging advanced polymerization know-how to deliver differentiated performance and seamless compatibility with adhesives.
Prior to joining H.B. Fuller, Carla earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oporto and built a strong foundation in analytical chemistry, process optimization, and quality management through various industry roles.
Bridging the Adhesion Gap: Functional Solutions for SUPD‑Compliant Coated Papers
Barrier coatings play a critical role in enabling fiber-based packaging, yet they can introduce downstream challenges in glue-ability and converting. At H.B. Fuller, barrier coating and adhesive development are closely connected, with performance designed not only for barrier requirements but also for how coated substrates will be assembled and sealed.
Mineral based coatings are becoming increasingly important in Europe as converters seek fiber-based solutions that meet Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) requirements. While they offer strong barrier performance, their inorganic nature creates significant adhesion and heat seal challenges, limiting manufacturability in applications such as foodservice and paper cups.
H.B. Fuller is developing a new class of heat seal coating solutions, to deliver SUPD compliant, functional performance.
H.B. Fuller’s new solution improves adhesion, heat-sealing, productivity, and provides the potential for reduction in overall coat weight.
This presentation will share insights on barrier coatings for paper and the technical challenges of adhesion and heat sealing on barrier coated papers, implications for accelerating paper replacing plastic innovations within SUPD regulated markets, and real-world examples.
Breakout Session IX – Performance & Compliance in Packaging Systems – 17 September 2026 – 16:00 – 16:30 – Room Fleming – F3