The environmental challenges of gravure printing are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1、 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emissions
Large emissions: Solvent based inks and cleaning agents used in gravure printing processes release large amounts of VOCs, which can easily form photochemical smog in the atmosphere, posing a threat to the environment and human health.
Regulatory restrictions: With the increasing global awareness of environmental protection, countries are imposing stricter restrictions on VOCs emissions. Developed countries in Europe and America have already legislated to limit VOCs emissions, and some developing countries have also introduced relevant regulations to put forward clear requirements for VOCs emissions in the printing industry.
2、 Wastewater treatment
Wastewater generation: During the gravure printing process, wastewater containing chemicals such as ink, solvents, and cleaning agents is generated. If these wastewater are discharged directly without treatment, it will cause pollution to the water environment.
Difficult to handle: The concentration of organic matter in gravure printing wastewater is high, and it may contain toxic and harmful substances such as heavy metals and benzene derivatives, making the treatment difficult. Traditional physical or chemical methods often struggle to meet discharge standards and require the adoption of more efficient wastewater treatment technologies.
3、 Resource consumption
Energy consumption: The gravure printing process requires a large amount of energy such as electricity and water resources, especially in the drying stage, which requires high-temperature heating to evaporate solvents, resulting in a high energy consumption.
Material waste: During the printing process, the loss and waste of materials such as plates and ink can also have a certain impact on the environment.
4、 Waste disposal
Waste generation: During the gravure printing process, waste plates, ink, solvents, and other waste materials are generated. If these waste materials are not handled properly, they can cause environmental pollution.
Low recycling rate: Although some waste can be recycled, the recycling rate is generally low, and new pollutants may also be generated during the recycling process.
5、 Technological innovation and upgrading
Technical bottleneck: Currently, the technical solutions for environmental protection issues in gravure printing are not yet perfect, and there are technical bottlenecks and difficulties. For example, VOCs treatment technology and wastewater treatment technology need further research and innovation.
Equipment upgrade: In order to achieve the environmental goals of gravure printing, it is necessary to continuously upgrade printing equipment and improve its environmental performance. However, upgrading equipment requires a significant investment of funds and time costs, which may pose certain difficulties for small and medium-sized enterprises.
In summary, gravure printing faces multiple challenges in terms of environmental protection, including VOCs emissions, wastewater treatment, resource consumption, waste disposal, and technological innovation and upgrading. To address these challenges, the gravure printing industry needs to continuously strengthen technological research and innovation, enhance environmental awareness and sense of responsibility, and promote the industry's development towards green, low-carbon, and sustainable directions.