Finally, vegetable-based inks are easier to remove during recycling’s deinking process than petroleum-based inks. In addition, VOC-free inks eliminate the release of greenhouse gases. Oil-producing plants can be widely cultivated and oils can be easily extracted and refined. Obviously petroleum is a non-renewable resource, while the plants used for vegetable-based ink are fast growing and renewable. How do vegetable-based inks compare to petroleum-based inks? Sustainability, recycling, and the environment Vegetable-based inks can be cleaned from machinery with less water and solvent. Petroleum-based inks require harsher solvents and more VOCs are released. Additional VOCs can be released when presses are washed between print runs. What inks have higher levels of VOCs?Īs petroleum-based inks dry, they release VOCs. These inks and chemicals release VOCs that can contribute to global warming and be harmful to the health of print workers if not properly managed. The European Commission reports that offset printing consumes around three million tons of hydrocarbon-based inks and chemicals every year. More simply put, they can evaporate at normal indoor air temperatures and their greenhouse effect contributes to global warming. VOCs are compounds of carbon–excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides, or carbonates and ammonium carbonate–which participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? Vegetable-based inks often employ a blend of oils to maximize quality and minimize drying times. Each type of oil comes with its own advantages for example, soybean oil is relatively clear so it can provide more vivid colors than petroleum-based oils. ![]() Soybean and linseed oil are the two most prominent. Today, synthetic products have surpassed vegetable-based alternatives, but environmentally conscious manufacturers and consumers are turning the tide.Ĭommon oils used in vegetable-based inks are soy, linseed (flax), canola, and safflower. By the early 1970s, the supply of vegetable oils was limited so manufacturers used petroleum products. ![]() Early inks were derived from natural, plant-based sources. The vehicle can be water, solvent, or oil based. pigments or dyes), additives that help improve performance on the press, and the vehicle or carrier medium for the other elements. What is vegetable-based ink?įirst, we need to understand the composition of most inks. Today we’ll focus on ink’s composition–whether it’s petroleum or plant based–and its release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when determining if ink is environmentally friendly and sustainable. In earlier posts we explored printing on recycled paper and tree-free paper. Eco-friendly ink is one component of green printing.
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