In making emulsion-type pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), environmentally friendly sorbitan nonionic surfactants having various chemical structures were prepared and used to find out the possibility of substituting the traditional nonyl-phenyl nonionic surfactant (NPE40) by comparing their adhesive properties. Results exhibited that the PSA used NSR10-series and Tween 60 showed better adhesive properties in initial ball tack, peel strength and holding power than those of NPE40. The reason for this is their particular chemical structure and the proper ratio of hydrophobic groups to the ethylene oxide groups.