The printing industry, like many others, is undergoing a transformation driven by a growing awareness of environmental responsibility and a need for sustainability in all industries. At the forefront of this shift is the increasing adoption of sustainable inks, a crucial element in minimizing the environmental impact of print. This evolution isn’t just about being eco-friendly; it’s about ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for print itself.
The Building Blocks of Sustainable Color
To truly understand the impact of sustainable inks, it’s essential to look at what goes into them. Heatset inks, commonly used in commercial printing, consist of colorants, a vehicle, and additives. While traditional inks rely heavily on petroleum-based products, sustainable alternatives are changing the landscape. For instance, the colorants used in four-color process printing are primarily Copper Phthalocyanine Blue, Lithol Rubine, Diarylide Yellow, and Carbon Black. The non-black colorants are organic pigments derived from crude oil or natural gas, and carbon for black ink is produced by burning oil and natural gas. The vehicle, which carries the pigment, traditionally consists of hard resin, hydrocarbon resin, vegetable oil alkyd, and middle distillate. Hard resins are often produced from tall oil rosin (a paper-making byproduct) or gum rosin (harvested from live trees). Additives, like waxes for rub resistance, are also a factor.
The Rise of Bio-Renewable Inks
Heatset inks have long incorporated some vegetable oil, used to produce alkyds for pigment grinding due to their wetting properties. Linseed oil was the primary vegetable oil until the 1990s, when the American Soybean Association (ASA) advocated for soybean oil. Although early soy targets were unfeasible, the ASA now requires Heatset inks to contain a minimum of seven percent soybean oil to qualify for the “Printed with Soy Ink” seal. Today, a blend of vegetable oils is often used to maximize beneficial properties.
Flint Group, a primary supplier for Dollco Printing, is committed to minimizing environmental impact through its products and practices. The company’s Heatset inks utilize renewable resources like soybean oil, linseed oil, castor oil, tall oil rosin, and gum rosin. While the amount of renewable resources in Heatset ink is limited by factors like ink film hardness and paper absorption, Flint Group’s inks supplied to Dollco contain significant percentages of these resources.
A Commitment to Sustainable Color
Flint Group’s commitment extends beyond soy. Their Agri-Web™ logo helps print buyers identify inks that prioritize renewable resources. These inks often surpass soy oil content with a blend of renewable oils and rosins, ensuring both environmental responsibility and optimal print performance. For example, Flint Group’s black ink contains 5.3% soy, other bio-renewable content at 20.1%, and rosin-based resin at 6.0%. Cyan ink contains 10.2% soy, 24.9% other bio-renewable content, and 5.5% rosin-based resin. Magenta ink uses 8.6% soy, 26.0% other bio-renewable content, and 4.0% rosin-based resin. Yellow ink has 9.6% soy, 25.6% other bio-renewable content, and 3.5% rosin-based resin.
Driving a Greener Future for Print
The printing industry is actively pursuing a greener future, and while certain oil-based components remain necessary for Heatset printing due to the drying process and ink’s interaction with fountain solution, companies like Flint Group are dedicated to continuous innovation to minimize environmental impact. Dollco Print Solutions leverages this commitment by partnering with suppliers like Flint Group, who consistently seek opportunities to reduce reliance on petroleum-based products and increase the use of renewable and recyclable materials. By prioritizing these collaborations, Dollco ensures that our clients receive exceptional print quality while also contributing to environmentally responsible practices throughout the supply chain.
Contact Dollco today to discuss your sustainable printing project!