a water - sensitive hot melt adhesive composition based on sulfonated branched copolyester polymers for use with articles such as paper products , disposable nonwoven products , tapes , labels and packaging materials . the adhesive composition includes about 10 % to about 90 %, by weight , of a sulfonated polyester copolymer or a blend of one or more sulfonated polyester polymers ; about 0 % to about 80 %, by weight , of a tackifying resin ; about 0 % to about 40 %, by weight , of a compatible plasticizer ; about 5 % to about 50 % by weight of a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight greater than 2000 and a melting point greater than 50 ° c ; and about 0 % to about 3 % by weight of one or more antioxidant . the adhesive maintains the article in an assembled condition by providing adequate adhesive bond strength during normal use , but dissolves in the presence of water thereby permitting the article to be recycled or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner .