The Super Sustainable Homemade Glue That You Can DIY In A Pinch

If you are always crafting or helping your child with yet another school project, traditional school glue is a must-have staple around the house. However, glue also tends to dry up, magically get lost, and quickly run out. If you want to be more eco-friendly and avoid another trip to the supplies store, consider making this super sustainable homemade glue. All you need are some biodegradable packing peanuts and water, and you will be well on your way to completing your masterpiece.

Many glues are made of synthetic materials, such as plastic. Not only are these materials not sustainable to make, but many of them are not biodegradable either. This means that after you stick two pieces of paper together and decide you don't need the paper anymore, the glue makes it difficult for the project to be recycled. Plant-based glues, on the other hand, are biodegradable and can be recycled.

DIY glue made with packing peanuts is sustainable for many reasons. Not only is it a plant-based, biodegradable glue, but you are using materials that would otherwise be thrown in the trash. Also, you are reducing your carbon footprint by not going to the store for just one bottle of glue. After checking out this quick DIY, use these 12 sustainable home hacks if you are looking for other ways to be more sustainable.

All you need to make your own glue are some biodegradable packing peanuts and a little water. The easiest way to know if your packing peanuts are biodegradable or not is to run them under some water. If they are biodegradable, they will become sticky and begin to dissolve in your hand.

Place the peanuts in a small container and add a little water. You want to only add a few drops at a time and check the consistency before adding more. Mix the ingredients with a small paintbrush until the peanuts dissolve and form a paste. Make sure not to add too much water, or the glue will become too runny, seeping through your paper and ruining your project. When the texture is paste-like, glue as you normally would to stick your paper together. Wait about 10 minutes after applying, and your homemade glue should be completely dry.

While this hack is cheaper than buying glue at the store, you don't want to make a large batch of this glue at once. The glue will dry out fairly quickly and become unusable. Instead, save the dry packing peanuts for when you need more glue and make a fresh batch. Don't worry about the packing peanuts' color. These peanuts are known to come in a variety of colors, but the color shouldn't show through your paper. That said, this glue will not dry clear or shiny like other glues bought at the store, so it's best to use it for a simple project–gluing two things together rather than using it like a gloss Mod Podge.

Finally, get creative with the uses for this glue. For example, if you are trying to be more eco-friendly for a more sustainable holiday or birthday, try using this glue instead of tape. Alternatively, many of the ways to repurpose old magazines around your home could become even more sustainable by using homemade glue.