Sustainable (Green, Bio-Based) Printing Inks

 
In printing we see more and more the terms "Sustainability", "Carbon Footprint", "Environmentally friendly", "Bio-based" etc. and see an increased awareness of the printing industry towards these topics. Not anymore buzzwords, but a real hot topic. The raw material suppliers to the ink industry already put a lot of effort in developing more safe and bio-based raw materials. The printing ink industry is confronted with more severe legislation (in particular in the food packaging industry) and rules, such as REACH, Swiss Ordinance, etc. The printing industry should take stewardship for sustainability, which includes the printers, the ink makers and the producers of raw materials for printing inks. The presentation will provide guidelines to use more and more biorenewable raw materials, to use less or no toxic raw materials and to improve the environmental aspects (de-inking, recycling, biodegradability) of printing inks. Guidance for ink formulations for offset inks, flexo and gravure inks will be given.