Sustainability is a hot topic throughout virtually every industry, and inks and printing are no exception. Brand owners are being asked about sustainability and the environment, and they are looking to their printers, who, in turn, ask their ink suppliers. Of course, suppliers to the ink industry are also involved in the quest for improved sustainability.

It makes a lot of sense. Sustainability isn’t just about the environment. It’s also about producing goods more efficiently, while using materials that have been responsibly sourced. It also covers the need for having an end-of-life plan for materials, as recycling, composting or reusing item is far better than just throwing them in a landfill.

In speaking with industry leaders, interest in sustainability continues to grow among their customers.

“Sustainability is the cornerstone of our company’s vision,” said Renee Schouten, VP of marketing for INX International Ink Co. “Our sustainability efforts guide the products we make, the processes we use, and how we treat society. We genuinely believe everyone must work harmoniously to create value that helps safeguard our planet. We do it not because of regulatory pressure or to increase market share, but simply because it is the right thing to do.

“We recognize that while delivering high quality printing inks, coatings, and services, we have a responsibility to do while aligned with environment, society, and corporate governance,” continued Schouten. “As an industry leader and manufacturer of products that serve all of society, we are committed to enhancing and growing our ability to add sustainable value for brand owners, customers, consumers,and employees.”

Craig Milsted, sustainability advisor in the FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Group, observed that conservation has always been a major consideration at the foundations of Fujifilm business activities. “Addressing climate change is a priority issue for Fujifilm, with targets to reduce CO2 emissions across the entire product life-cycle by 50% and from its operations by 50% (2030 vs. 2019), with operations net-zero by 2040,” said Milsted.

“The Ink Solutions Group is a contributor to these corporate goals, and as a major global producer of inkjet inks and dispersions, we have integrated sustainability into our business, to reduce the environmental impact of our own production and operations, and to develop products and services that support our customers in delivering on their sustainability commitments,” added Milsted.

Matthew Rowland-Jones, sustainability officer for Flint Group, reported that sustainability is increasingly important to all Flint Group’s stakeholders. “We are committed to helping our customers reach their sustainability goals,” Rowland-Jones said. “Importantly, Flint Group is highly focused on developing a broader range of sustainable products and services to meet the needs of its customers and brand owners.”

For example, Flint Group launched its PRISM platform, a three-pronged approach to sustainability, in 2022.

“Our PRISM framework breaks down sustainability into three areas where Flint Group can drive positive change: Product (innovating for a circular economy); Planet (reducing our impact on the environment); People (ensuring we have a diverse and inclusive workforce),” Rowland-Jones added. “This approach helps us break down the issues that matter most to our stakeholders while delivering specific targets – ultimately, enabling us to be a reliable partner that can add value to our customers at every stage of their sustainability journey.”

Alina Marm, head of global sustainability and circular economy for Siegwerk, noted that Siegwerk places significant emphasis on sustainability as an integral part of its business strategy.

“We firmly believe that a successful business of the future must have sustainability integrated into its business model,” Marm said. “Our overarching goal is to become a circular and digital packaging solutions company, actively shaping the future of packaging in a sustainable manner. Through our program HorizonNOW, we manage ambitious sustainability targets, ensuring actions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

“Sun Chemical prioritizes sustainability leadership in how we develop and bring products to market, in our interactions with and demands on our suppliers, in how we support our customers to achieve their sustainability targets, and in the cross-industry collaborations we undertake throughout the market segments that we serve,” said Nikola Juhasz, global technical director, sustainability, Sun Chemical.

Niels Nielsen, CCO, VP commercial director at Resino Inks, said that at Resino, sustainability is of utmost importance, and Resino Inks anticipates becoming fully dependent on it soon.

“Last year, we participated in a program/course called Climate-Fit Production Company, which assisted us in mapping and setting targets for our CO₂ emissions, establishing reduction goals, and inspiring effective and transparent climate communication. Our attainment of the ISO 14000 certification signifies our commitment to an internationally recognized management standard for environmental management,” said Nielsen.

“However, sustainability is not solely a strategic company objective; it has always been inherent in our product offerings,” Nielsen added. “For instance, we are actively engaged in developing UV LED inks, which play a role in eliminating ozone emissions. These inks are not only more environmentally friendly compared to mercury lamps but also consume less energy. Additionally, we have our inks for direct food contact which are either partially or entirely nature-based.”

Joe Shairs, ink manager at Inkcups, said that sustainability and the environment are major priorities at Inkcups.

“There is an increasing environmental consciousness throughout the world, and it’s incumbent on our whole industry to be looking for ways to make sustainability part of our businesses,” Shairs observed. “At Inkcups, we aim to provide practical solutions for eliminating waste and a number of our product innovations in recent years have been geared towards enabling our customers to offer more sustainable products, such as reusable drinkware and bags.

“Naturally we’re looking at our inks too, which is why all of our Sapphire ink products are non-toxic and compliant with all current US regulations, as well as European toy safety standards and EU RoHS rules,” Shairs added. “This is why it’s important to us that we hold Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certification, as well as ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX Certification for our SB Eco Series Eco-Friendly pad printing ink line, and we’re proud to say the latter has just been renewed.”

Discussing Sustainability with Customers

Sustainability issues start with the end-users, including consumers and brand owners. Rowland-Jones said that sustainability is a key topic of discussion with customers, adding that Flint Group sees three key areas of interest emerging from our conversation: carbon footprint, operational efficiency and circular economy.

“Sustainability is a priority not only for Sun Chemical, but also for our customers, who are increasingly focused on ways that they can deliver upstream and downstream reductions in carbon footprint, and also how they can help deliver the sustainability objectives of their customers, who are typically brand owners and retailers,” said Juhasz. “Ultimately, we are all working to satisfy the voice of the consumer for a more circular and sustainable economy.”

“Sustainability is often a key topic in early discussions with customers, particularly when it comes to circular packaging,” Marm said. “This emphasis is especially pronounced when customers actively support ambitious brand owners in their transformation journeys.”

“As consumer-packaged goods companies have prioritized and set sustainability goals, our customers are following suit,” said Schouten. “While areas of interest may be different per customer or print application, there are common themes around enabling recycling, reducing waste and the circular reuse of materials, and using renewable resources to reduce carbon footprint.”

“Sustainability is a primary focus in our discussions with customers,” Nielsen said. “We work closely with suppliers to responsibly source materials and actively engage with customers to minimize emissions from product use, resulting in more environmentally friendly end applications. Our commitment extends to addressing current needs met by chemical products, with a positive shift towards bio-based raw materials.”

Milsted said that sustainability is important to all print, adding that FUJIFILM sees that different industry sectors experience different pressures.

“In packaging, sustainability is a priority requirement as consumer demand on brands and growing legislation drive focus,” said Milsted. “In digital textiles, we see growing interest in pigment inkjet ink technology for its potential advantages versus more traditional dye-based; however, cost pressure remains a primary consideration. In sign and display, PSPs are increasingly asking for sustainability credentials and information demanded by brands, so as ink developer, we are part of supporting OEMs in delivering this. In commercial printing, recyclability, de-inking etc., are becoming an important part of the conversation.”

Recyclability and Compostability

End-of-life strategies are also critical throughout the supply chain. If the package can’t be recycled, it causes concerns. Recyclability and compostability are two approaches that are being used, and inks play a role here.

“As part of Siegwerk’s strategy to become a circular packaging solutions company, we are continuously introducing new products that facilitate recycling or composting,” Marm said. “Our focus lies on innovative coatings that enhance the recyclability and compostability of various packaging materials, whether they are made of paper or plastic. Notably, Siegwerk offers a comprehensive product range called CIRKIT, specifically designed to promote circularity.”

“Sun Chemical’s products, our pigments, inks, coatings and adhesives, are typically a small percentage of a final product, but they can nevertheless have a large impact on whether that product can be recycled or composted,” Juhasz said.

“We do supply a wide range of products that can enable recyclability or compostability, including barrier coatings that can enable monomaterial packaging, washable inks that allow recovery of higher quality paper and plastics, non-carbon black pigments and inks that allow near-infrared plastic sortation in recycling centers, and compostable coatings and adhesives, together with compost-compliant inks, which are essential for designing compostable packaging,” Juhasz added.

Rowland-Jones said that Flint Group is working on products that can be more easily recycled or composted.

“Flint Group products are part of the much larger print and packaging supply chain,” Rowland-Jones said. “Therefore, our approach to sustainability takes a broad perspective, looking at wider upstream and downstream impacts alongside our direct operations. By making inks and coatings designed for the circular economy and enabling the recycling of packaging substrates, we can help reduce the overall impact of the packaging value chain.”

Rowland-Jones added that all of Flint Group’s new ink developments are being designed with sustainability in mind.

“This dedication to a circular economy in packaging encompasses the key packaging markets of flexible packaging, paper & board, narrow web label, and offset folding carton,” Rowland-Jones noted.

“Our Genesis line of washable inks makes it easier to recycle plastic films so new clear bottles can be made from the circular reuse of recovered material,” said Schouten. “These high-performance inks for both gravure and flexographic printing are de-inkable from cPET, and floatable with roll-fed OPP labels in the recycling process.

“INX Ecostage GB-XA oxygen barrier coatings are formulated to address food safety and preservation issues, as well as improvements in sustainability and recycling,” added Schouten. “These high-performance coatings replace multi-layer with mono-material packaging for certain food applications, making the package easier to recycle.”

Nielsen said that Resino Inks always considers ways to integrate sustainability into its product development, such as the use of renewable resources and biodegradability.

“It is crucial that we prioritize the development of inks that are environmentally friendly throughout their life cycle, for example, inks derived from renewable resources, devoid of harmful chemicals, and easy to recycle or dispose of in an eco-friendly manner,” Nielsen added. “This focus is essential for maintaining our relevance and competitiveness in the future.”

“Always a consideration in ink, sustainability is not just what goes into that ink, but how it fits into the wider lifecycle and aim to achieve circularity, so de-inking, recycling and composting are important,” said Milsted. “In aqueous inkjet, Fujifilm has primer technologies that make the ink much easier to remove during the de-inking and recycling process.

“In UV inkjet ink we are investigating technology around topics such as bio-content raw materials and their impact on ink properties and cost, the impact of more sustainable substrates (such as polyolefins to replace PVC) on ink performance, compostability, recyclability and de-inking,” Milsted added. “We have UV inkjet ink products that have been independently assessed for recyclability on corrugated board.”