What Is The Status And Prospect Of The Packaging Ink Market in 2022 (Part 2)

What is the status and prospect of the packaging ink market in 2022 (Part 2)

02

Recyclability and compostability

Along these lines, recyclability and compostability issues are closely related to sustainability.

“We have developed innovative inks and coatings to meet the needs of circular packaging solutions,” said Dr. Wiedemann. “We have developed a variety of custom solutions to improve the recyclability of printed packaging. For example, we provide Solutions with high biorenewable content to support the ambition of fully biorenewable packaging, such as NC, UV or water-based inks with up to 80% renewable content, and even barrier coatings that maximize renewable content. We also A range of inks are available that comply with EN 13432 and OK Compost Home guidelines, meaning they do not interfere with the compostability of paper or plastic packaging, but in general we only support compostability using inks and OPVs where appropriate Packaging. In addition, we offer solutions capable of converting paper into recyclable high-performance packaging options. Here we discuss, for example, formulations that are easy to deink, even for UV-/LED offset printing, significantly contributing to the recycling of printed paper packaging use."

Dr. Wiedemann observed that recyclable barrier coatings could also provide the highest functionality for paper packaging without affecting the paper recycling stream, enabling an alternative to multi-material plastic packaging. “The right inks and coatings can also make recyclable single-plastic packaging a reality: adhesive coatings can support modular packaging construction for lamination and surface printing, which greatly supports the transition to recyclable single-plastic packaging. In addition , we also offer UV offset printing inks such as Cradle2Cradle Material Health Gold certified, and APR approved alkali peelable primer materials for UV printed PET shrink sleeve labels, which greatly facilitates the recycling of PET bottles. Further development could improve the Deinkability, so there is a clear push for deinking as a standard in the plastic packaging recycling process. All in all, the opportunities are manifold and our track record in circular solutions is already strong and will become even stronger in the future.”

“The circularity of our products is at the heart of our development activities,” says Sutter, “so we have a wide range of highly recyclable inks and varnishes and have developed deinking solutions when direct recycling is not possible. Cradle-to-cradle certification proves that our inks do not pose a risk to the environment.”

"For example, in a project called PrintCYC, we have been closely studying the role of liquid inks in the mechanical recycling process," Dr Frischmann said. "Current standards for the recyclability of printed packaging are only in a fairly general manner Refers to an ink without reflecting its chemistry. In our research, we found that our polyurethane-based inks, such as Gecko Platinum, have better recycling quality than nitrocellulose inks that have been the standard for flexible packaging for many years. In addition, we Compostability is also addressed, thus offering a wide range of compostable solvent-based and water-based inks.”

Renee Schutten, Director of International Marketing at Bantian, said that providing innovative, safe and sustainable solutions to enhance the customer experience is Bantian's top priority. "We want consumers, brand owners and customers to have confidence in their product choices. That's why we develop our products with minimal environmental impact without sacrificing machine, processing and end-use product performance."

“To ensure minimal impact, we strive to use renewable, natural raw materials from ethically and sustainably managed sources,” adds Schutten, “Our product development efforts focus on materials health and safety, products with environmental impact Functional as well as consumer safe and recyclable products. Each product we formulate is easy for customers to apply to increase efficiency, resulting in minimal product usage, resulting in higher yields with high quality results.”

03

Developing sustainable packaging inks

Packaging ink manufacturers are working closely with customers to develop inks that meet their sustainability needs.

Schutten noted that Bantian International helps brand owners and customers make products more recyclable and promotes the development of a circular economy. "This includes improving several functional barriers, it can use a single material construction, use color quick-wash inks that can be easily removed during recycling, sustainably sourced natural inks, and are designed for multiple reuse and recyclable heights Durable ink and coating applications. For example, Genesis GS is a sustainable gravure solvent ink that deinks from shrinkable cPET film and floats with OPP labels during recycling. Genesis is used by plastic recyclers The Association (APR) recognized it as meeting or exceeding the group's stringent testing protocols for washable and recyclable PET shrink sleeve products."

"When we look at sustainability holistically, we've set high environmental standards in the production of raw materials, which is possible because most of the raw materials come from our own chemicals division," Sutter said. When it comes to our printing inks and varnishes, we pay particular attention to the selection of sustainable raw materials and the recyclability of the final product. To investigate and improve the environmental impact of our products, we collaborate with the Cradle to Cradle Institute for Product Innovation.”

“Our aim is to achieve a circular economy – therefore, recyclability is a decisive factor for flexible packaging,” Dr Frischman said. “So the Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Program is exactly the right approach for us because it is so comprehensive. and rigorous. We supply printing inks with full cradle-to-cradle certification for water-based and solvent-based flexo and gravure, as well as offset printing. This means that all of these inks are designed for a circular economy and in a sustainable manner In addition, we are vigorously developing sustainable barrier varnishes that aim to replace plastic with paper or encourage easier recycling of single-material packaging, making us one of the companies with the broadest portfolio of sustainable printing inks and varnishes ."

Kubashak noted that the standard practice of Wikoff Color's R&D experts is to use the maximum amount of plant-derived, renewable raw materials and the minimum amount of volatile organic compounds, while still meeting customer requirements for new products. “Additionally, our non-aqueous waste inks are often used as fuel, while waste water-based products can be disposed of in standard waste water treatment facilities. Additionally, our Gelflex range of EB curable flexible packaging inks are formulated for thinner ink films, Reduces curing energy consumption and helps make packaging that is easily recyclable.”

Dr. Juhas said that at Sun Chemistry, the sustainable properties of a product are viewed in two ways. “The first is the formulation of the product, which includes using more renewable raw materials to replace traditional petroleum-derived materials, thereby reducing the inherent carbon footprint of these products, and adopting post-consumer recycled materials to support a circular economy. The second is our supply to the market applications such as SolvaWash FL series inks can be washed from PET bottle labels as well as a variety of flexible films and rigid substrates for more recyclable and sustainable packaging. Sun Chemical also has many products such as SunVisto AquaGreen Water based inks and SYSCS011 ValloCoat Matte HR Comp coating and RESR736 Vallolube Gloss Comp which are TÜV OK Compost and/or compostable certified for compostable paper and film packaging.”

Dr. Juhas also noted that Sun Chemical offers multi-purpose technologies that support waste reduction at converter facilities by simplifying inventories and reducing start-up and transition.

According to Dr. Wiedemann, the development of environmentally friendly and circular packaging inks and coatings is at the heart of Siegwerk's innovative work. “Our goal is to specifically support our customers with customized solutions, redesigning packaging according to the three key levers of a circular economy: reduce, reuse and recycle. To do this, we have improved formulations, for example with higher renewable content or other Eco-friendly ingredients to provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional inks, but always with a focus on not compromising the functionality of the packaging or its recyclability.

“For example, we have developed ink solutions with enhanced deinking properties to further facilitate recycling and barrier coatings that can replace traditional plastic barriers, thereby reducing the use of composite layers and materials, facilitating the transition from multi-material packaging to single Redesign of material packaging, our track record in customer-specific ink and coatings development projects for circular packaging solutions is already strong: we provide solutions that improve recyclability, enable decarbonization and support packaging based on renewable materials , always adjusted to customer-specific packaging and end-use requirements. By 2025, one of our goals is to have 75% of all products or services sold in reusable, renewable or recyclable packaging.”