An adhesion composition comprising a) a first polymer that is selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymers, acrylonitrile butadiene, butyl rubber, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, epoxy resins, ethylene vinyl acetate, natural rubber, neoprene, phenolic polymers, polyurethanes, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, styrene butadiene rubber, casein, dextrin, starch, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof; b) a second polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, oxidized polyethylene, oxidized ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, maleated polyolefin and combinations thereof; and c) a surfactant; where the composition is water-based, having a solids content of greater than about 30% based on the total weight of the composition, with a particle size of about 10 nm to about 2000 nm, and is adapted for adhesion to substrates; and where the first and second polymers are different. The adhesion composition can also comprise a tackifier resin selected from the group consisting of rosin ester resin, rosin acid resin, synthetic hydrocarbon resin, synthetic terpenic resin and combinations thereof. Applications of the composition are also disclosed.