At present, packaging printing processes still require materials that carry environmental impact ??such as solvent-based inks, oil-based lamination films, and oil-based coatings. These generate harmful and toxic gases during use. Technologies like exhaust adsorption, absorption, and catalytic combustion can process these emissions, reducing harmful gas concentrations in the workplace and minimizing harm to worker health and the environment. Various waste products from packaging printing should be separately collected ??valuable materials like paper should be recycled, while difficult-to-degrade substances like film and plastic should be centrally collected for resource recovery or sanitary landfill disposal.
To advance environmental protection in the packaging printing industry, companies should target sustainable economic and social development. Government printing regulatory authorities can incorporate environmental requirements as key indicators in annual enterprise audits, mandating corrective actions for non-compliant companies. Printing industry associations should partner with government efforts to promote new technologies, processes, and materials. Specific environmental measures include:
(1) Waterless Offset Printing
Waterless offset printing eliminates alcohol-based fountain solutions, delivering major environmental benefits. Although practical applications of waterless offset remain limited today, any technology, material, process, or equipment that benefits the environment will see significant future development. With the advancement of digital printing, waterless offset will become the inevitable choice.
(2) Environmentally Friendly Flexographic Printing
Flexographic printing is widely recognized as one of the most promising and environmentally superior printing methods. It uses water-based inks that offer both excellent printability and superior environmental performance, aligning with the green development trend in modern packaging printing.
(3) Environmentally Friendly Inks
UV-curable inks (UV inks) transform from liquid to solid under specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light, with zero solvent emissions. They offer fast curing, environmental friendliness, and high print quality. Water-based UV inks combine the advantages of both water-based and UV technologies ??even less irritation, no pollution, and superior safety. They are considered near-zero-emission products and are recognized as energy-saving, environmentally friendly “green” products.
(4) CTP and Digital Printing
Computer-to-Plate (CTP) technology eliminates intermediate film output and processing steps, reducing waste and effluent discharge while lowering environmental impact. Digital printing technologies further enhance environmental performance through intelligent improvements in workplace conditions, paper utilization efficiency, energy conservation, waste reduction, and resource recycling.
(5) Waste Management
Manufacturing process waste primarily consists of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from printing ink organic solvents, cleaning solvent agents, coating varnishes, and lamination adhesives. Strict compliance with VOC emission standards is essential, as is continuous improvement of waste gas treatment technology.
(6) Water-Based Coating Technology
Water-based coatings use water ??non-toxic, odorless, and pollution-free ??as the diluent. With its unique green environmental characteristics, this technology is certain to gain widespread industry adoption.
(7) Photodegradable Polymer Materials
Developing and adopting chloride-free, photodegradable polymer materials as safe, environmentally friendly plastic packaging substrates is another key direction. In plastics and packaging printing, polyolefins represent the best alternative material to replace PVC.
References
- Wikipedia: Waterless Printing: Overview of waterless offset printing technology and environmental benefits
- Wikipedia: Flexography: Comprehensive reference on flexographic printing technology
- EPA: Green Printing: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resources for green printing practices
- ISO 12647 ??Process Control for Offset Printing: International standard for printing process control
- Fogra: Printing Research Institute: Leading research organization for printing technology standards and environmental compliance