Environmental impacts of printing inks
Some of the pigments used in ink contain metallic substances which are harmful to human health and the environment such as cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury. Conventional printing inks are petroleum-based and used with alcohol-based solvents. As alcohol and petroleum evaporate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted. VOCs represent environmental pollution and a health hazard to pressroom workers. In terms of atmospheric pollution, VOCs react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to create ozone pollution or photochemical smog.

Vegetable-based inks
One solution to VOCs is the use of soya or vegetable-based inks which have lower rates of VOC emissions. Petroleum inks emit 25 to 40 percent VOCs when they dry, while rates for soya and vegetable-based inks are as low as two to four percent. Vegetable oils used in printing inks are essentially non-hazardous. Mineral oils are typically refined from crude oil which is a valuable, finite resource. Energy requirements for extraction, refining and treatment are high. In contrast vegetable oils are derived from renewable resources. Soya and vegetable based inks also benefit the environment due to greater ease of removal from wastepaper during de-inking for recycling.

Press washes and fount solutions
The isopropyl alcohol (IPA) present in solutions used to dampen lithographic printing presses (known as fount solutions), and in press washes, is a major source of VOCs. Fount solutions are available with zero or low alcohol concentration, and lithographic inks which can be washed up on the press using VOC-free water-based solutions are being developed. Waterless printing technology, developed in recent years, eliminates the use of IPA from the printing process, resulting in a significant drop in VOC emissions.

Eco-labelling of printing ink
The ink industry is some years behind the paper industry in communicating about environmental problems, and eco-labelling of inks to inform the consumer is some years into the future.

Ecographic supplies graphic
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specialising in meeting
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environmental concerns.

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