Interview: "Sustainable solutions for all ink components"

Compliance with regulatory laws and industry guidelines keeps ink companies busy. Janet Preston and Anabelle Elton-Legrix of Imerys are confident that clear identification and identification of all final ink components will be critical.
, what is the trend of food packaging ink raw materials?
Janet Preston and Anabelle Elton-Legrix: Some of the main trends relate to the safety and management of all ink ingredients
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. The key is to have a final ink in which the components are clearly identified and qualified. This is especially important for any ink that will be printed on the food contact material. Ink companies are working to improve compliance with regulatory laws and industry guidelines to increase the transparency and accountability of their customers. The production of raw materials and inks is regulated by eupIA (European Ink Association) guidelines and good manufacturing practices (GMP) for inks and varnishes designed for printing on food contact materials. This includes the safety of raw materials in formulations, their migration potential, ink composition, and quality control and hygiene management. Quality and consistency of raw materials are key requirements for mineral supply (clay, calcium carbonate and talcum powder). We are committed to the highest level of product management and are certified by ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environment. The UK Analytical Laboratory is ISO 17025 certified to ensure the highest level of analytical capability. The recycling and reuse of materials is becoming increasingly important, from cradle to grave, from cradle to cradle mentality, so that the Earth's raw materials can be reused in a sustainable manner. The UK Analytical Laboratory is ISO 17025 certified to ensure the highest level of analytical capability. The recycling and reuse of materials is becoming increasingly important, from cradle to grave, from cradle to cradle mentality, so that the Earth's raw materials can be reused in a sustainable manner. The UK Analytical Laboratory is ISO 17025 certified to ensure the highest level of analytical capability. The recycling and reuse of materials is becoming increasingly important, from cradle to grave, from cradle to cradle mentality, so that the Earth's raw materials can be reused in a sustainable manner.
can we make printing inks more sustainable?
Janet Preston
Preston and Legrix: A trend is from solvent-based inks to water-based systems, although technical challenges mean that some cosol solvents are often added. Another trend is to include vegetable oils from renewable sources rather than mineral oils as ink solvents. Benefits include faster degradation during recovery, lower VOC emission rates and lower levels of pollutants such as heavy metals.
CO optimization
2
footprint is a key trend that could mean logistics optimization; The CO2 level of individual
in
is also an effective consideration. For example, Ierys has cut
CO2
7% of its emissions between 2012 and 2017 (on average, all minerals). Mineral selection also affects the carbon footprint. For example, in white inks, tiO
2
pigment extension will not only increase the cost efficiency of the ink, but also improve the carbon footprint of the formula.
TiO
2
has a carbon footprint of 5.3 kg CO
2
e / kgTiO
2
products, while clay and calcium carbonate have a significantly lower carbon footprint (0.1-0.85 kg CO
2
/ kg Ridge slurry - dry PCC).
sustainability also includes ethics, corporate responsibility, reducing energy and water use, reducing air emissions and maximizing recycling, and most companies are developing policies to address these important issues described on the company's website. For example, Imerys has a dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) group dedicated to promoting positive and innovative improvements.
to what extent can mineral additives improve the performance of printed inks?
Anabelle Legrix
Preston and Legix: In the cost-conscious and competitive ink and printing industry, there is always a drive to reduce costs. Mineral increments such as kaolin and calcium carbonate are often the least expensive parts of inks, so a common and useful strategy is to add as many minerals as possible without harming the final ink properties. However, minerals also bring technical benefits to inks, such as they increase the volume of the ink and contribute to physical coverage on the substrate surface. In some cases, add increments to help keep the ink on the surface of the paper that actually requires color and prevent penetration/impact into most of the paper. Changes in the extent and type of use of minerals exist even in the same type of ink.
some of these differences are due to local mineral availability and logistics issues, but others are due to ink technology performance. In offset printing, the choice of calcium carbonate or kaolin is important to help control viscosity and the absorption and release of moisturizing fluid. Different increments or fillers can bring different properties to the ink. Kaolin has a plate-like structure, so a higher gloss can be allowed if the flakes are arranged in the final dry ink. Calcium carbonate gives white tones and provides a lower shear viscosity (e.g. allowing more to be added to flexo inks).