Environmental requirements and challenges of food-grade water-based inks
Date: Nov 21 2023 From: Star Color
With the improvement of global environmental awareness, the strict environmental regulations continue to increase, water-based ink as a new generation of environmentally friendly printing materials, its market demand continues to grow.According to the "China Printing Industry Development Report" data show that the application ratio of water-based ink in the printing industry increased from 35% in 2015 to 50% in 2020, showing the wide application and continuous growth of water-based ink.As an important branch of water-based ink, food-grade water-based ink is widely used in the field of food packaging and some decorative ink, its environmental protection requirements are more stringent, and the market prospect is broad.
The basic concept and characteristics of water-based ink
Water-based ink is an ink that uses water as the main solvent and does not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).Compared with traditional solvent-based inks, water-based inks have the following advantages:
Environmental protection: Water-based ink does not contain organic solvents, so it reduces the emission of VOCs and reduces the pollution of the atmosphere.
Safety: Water-based inks do not contain volatile organic compounds, thus reducing toxicity to operators and reducing the risk of fire.
Compatibility: Water-based ink has good adaptability to various printing materials and is not easy to cause blockage and corrosion.
Printing effect: Water-based ink has better printability and color performance, and can meet a variety of printing requirements.
Special requirements for food-grade water-based inks
Food-grade water-based inks refer to water-based inks used in the field of food packaging and some decorative inks, and their special requirements include:
Food safety standards: Food-grade water-based inks must meet the certification requirements of international food safety organizations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the safety and quality of food.
Tasteless, non-toxic, no residue: food-grade water-based ink should be tasteless and non-toxic in the printing process, and harmful substances should not be produced in the human body during the use of printed matter.In addition, the ink and its residues should not affect the health and safety of food.
Good printability and drying performance: food-grade water-based ink should have good printability and drying performance to ensure printing quality and production efficiency.
Compatibility of food packaging materials: food-grade water-based inks should be adapted to various food packaging materials, such as paper, plastic, metal, etc., and should not produce corrosion and pollution of packaging materials in various environments.
Environmental requirements for food-grade water-based inks
Food-grade water-based ink as an important part of environmentally friendly printing materials, its environmental requirements include the following aspects:
Raw material selection and supply chain management
The use of renewable resources or degradable raw materials: the raw materials of food-grade water-based ink should use renewable resources or degradable raw materials, such as plant ink or biomass raw materials, to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources.
Avoid the use of toxic and harmful chemicals: the raw materials of food-grade water-based ink should avoid the use of toxic and harmful chemicals, such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, etc.
Environmental considerations in the production process
Reduce energy consumption and wastewater discharge: The production process should be optimized in the production process, reduce energy consumption and wastewater discharge, and achieve a low-carbon and environmentally friendly production mode.
Zero-emission production process: The production process should achieve zero emissions, that is, the waste in the production process should be effectively recycled and treated to reduce the impact on the environment.
Product performance and recycling
Improve the durability and stability of water-based inks: Through the development of new water-based polymers and additives, improve the durability and stability of water-based inks and extend the service life of printed matter.
Support the recycling of packaging materials: food-grade water-based ink should adapt to the recycling requirements of various packaging materials in order to facilitate the recycling of discarded printed matter.
Challenges and countermeasures to meet the environmental requirements of food-grade water-based ink
Meeting the environmental requirements of food-grade water-based inks faces a series of challenges. Here are some of the main challenges and possible solutions:
Technical challenges
Development of new materials that meet food safety and environmental requirements: The development of food-grade water-based inks requires new environmentally friendly raw materials and additives to meet food safety and environmental requirements.For example, the development and application of biomass feedstocks, as well as the research and development of non-toxic, residual-free water-based polymers and additives.
Improve the printing effect and drying speed of water-based ink: In order to meet market demand and improve production efficiency, it is necessary to improve the printing effect and drying speed of water-based ink.For example, by improving the production process and formulation, the stability and rheology of water-based ink are improved, and the drying speed and printing effect are optimized.
Regulatory and certification challenges
Understanding and adapting to changing environmental and food safety regulations: Environmental and food safety regulations are constantly changing and updated around the world, and companies need to keep abreast of and adapt to these regulations to ensure product compliance and market competitiveness.
Obtain relevant environmental and food safety certifications: Food-grade water-based inks need to obtain relevant environmental and food safety certifications, such as FDA, EU certification, etc., to prove that they meet the needs of the market and consumers.
Corporate Social Responsibility challenge
Improve employees' environmental awareness and strengthen environmental training:Enterprises need to improve the environmental protection awareness and skill level of employees, through environmental training and education, so that employees understand the environmental protection regulations and requirements, and enhance the environmental protection image of enterprises.
Establish an environmental protection management system to achieve sustainable development:Enterprises should establish a complete set of environmental protection management system, from raw material procurement, production process, product performance to packaging and transportation and other links, fully implement the concept of environmental protection, to achieve sustainable development.
As an environmentally friendly and safe printing material, the market demand for food-grade water-based inks continues to grow, especially in the field of food packaging and decorative inks.In order to meet the increasingly stringent.
environmental protection requirements and market demand, enterprises need to pay attention to the development trends in the following aspects:
Research and development of new biomass raw materials and non-toxic, non-residual additives to improve the environmental performance of water-based ink.
Optimize the production process and formula, improve the printing effect and drying speed of water-based ink, and reduce the production cost.
Pay attention to changes in global environmental protection and food safety regulations, and timely adjust product strategies to ensure product compliance and certification needs.
Strengthen the environmental protection training and social responsibility awareness of enterprises, establish a complete environmental management system, and enhance the sustainable development ability of enterprises.
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