In a world that’s becoming increasingly aware of environmental concerns, businesses are under more significant pressure than ever to adopt sustainable packaging practices. One such area of innovation lies in printing solutions used for packaging. This is where water-based ink comes into play. In this article, we will explore the benefits and disadvantages of the growing trend of using water-based ink in shipping packaging.
Before we delve into the world of water-based ink, it’s essential to understand the existing ink technologies available on the market. Historically, solvent-based and oil-based inks have been popular choices in various industries. However, these traditional inks come with their set of environmental concerns.
There are 3 essential components to ink: varnishes, oil and pigments. As these are not all natural, traditional ink is not biodegradable. Oil that is used in manufacturing modern paint is often petroleum-based. Moreover, most popular inks are often laced with additional chemicals that – much like preservatives in food – are supposed to enhance its quality and durability. These plastic or synthetic polymers are also often made from crude oil, adding to the CO2 emissions.
Varnishes, lacquers, moistening solutions and washing solvents all contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air pollutants (HAPs). As Turkish Engineering and Design scientists note, “VOCs and HAPs, together with sunlight and nitrogen oxides, cause photochemical smoke and ground level ozone emission in the atmosphere.”
The negative impact of throwing heavily printed products into the garbage also has to be considered. The volatile organic compounds and heavy metals in ink can lead to soil and even water pollution when left in landfills. With individual ink cartridges and printed paper or plastic not always being disposed of properly, and the harmful emissions of VOCs and HAP, traditional ink is, little by little, amounting to a bigger environmental issue. This has led to a search for greener alternatives.
Water-based ink is an innovative solution that uses water as the primary solvent, reducing the need for harmful chemicals. This eco-friendly ink is made up of pigments or dyes suspended in water, making it a safe and sustainable option. The shift towards water-based ink in the packaging industry is driven by the need for cleaner and more environmentally responsible production methods.
Water-based ink is safer when it comes to disposal and decomposing, ensuring that no toxic substances leach into the environment. This is also because oils found in traditional ink are produced in a way that ensures they remain intact indefinitely.
Consequently, we are left with oil-based components, as well as microplastics and nanoplastics, persisting in the environment for many years, even decades after their initial use. It’s important to note that the decomposition process is a slow one, often spanning decades or even longer. This is not the case with water-based ink. The reduction in VOC emissions when switching to water-based ink can be as high as 95%.
But water-based ink isn’t just better for the environment; it’s also safer for the people involved in the production process. The materials generated during printing with traditional solvent-based ink, particularly during the drying phase, can lead to significant health issues.
These traditional inks generate harmful substances that in the short term can result in skin and eye irritations. Long term inhalation of ink fumes and odors may lead to conditions such as asthma, respiratory problems, and, in severe instances, even organ cancer. In fact, oil-based ink cartridges are often marked with labels indicating potential health hazards associated with these substances. Unlike traditional inks, water-based ink does not emit harmful fumes, making the working environment healthier for employees.
One of the primary reasons for embracing water-based ink printing is its eco-friendliness. It significantly reduces the environmental impact compared to solvent-based and oil-based inks. Let’s explore the many benefits of water-based inks together:
By choosing water-based printing on shipping packaging, companies can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future, reducing the carbon footprint of their shipments.
The switch to water-based ink doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. This printing technique enables the precise replication of digital images and designs, encompassing photographs and illustrations, onto a diverse range of paper types. In fact, it offers a whole range of benefits while maintaining the high standards you expect from your shipping packaging.
Despite being eco-friendly, water-based ink is incredibly versatile. Due to its composition primarily consisting of gentle resins, and evaporative water during the curing phase, most water-based ink permeates fabric more deeply than solvent-based inks, resulting in a softer print. However, it still allows for high-detail prints, vibrant colors, and sharp images. This means you can maintain the visual appeal of your shipping packaging while being kinder to the environment.
Photo by Silvano Audisio, Adobe Stock
However, when using water-based inks achieving a durable finish involves more than simply coating with ink…
Concerned about the durability of water-based ink for your e-commerce and business shipments? Worry not! Water-based ink can match the longevity and resilience of traditional inks, ensuring that your packaging design remains intact throughout the shipping process.
The objective of water-based inks is to ensure their full sensitivity to heat. When these inks undergo heating, they should maintain their integrity without flaking or fading. This can be achieved using various methods like a heat press, a drying tunnel, a tumble dryer, hand irons, or by subjecting the fabric to low-temperature baking. When done right, this process enhances their durability and resistance to heat and other types of damage.
Water-based inks were first used in arts and crafts like calligraphy and rubber stamping, but they have since made their way into printing and ads precisely because they create high-quality images that can endure different weather conditions and transport.
Ready to make the switch to water-based ink? At FILMAR, we believe that you should not have to choose between sustainable solutions and high-quality shipping packaging, especially when it comes to protecting the most valuable or confidential items. That’s why our security envelopes are now available with recycled plastic and safer, eco-friendly water-based ink. We have also upgraded our versatile shipping mailers. With 80% recycled plastic and water-based ink, the Co-Ex Filbag is now among the greenest choices on the market. And these are only the first steps towards our ultimate goal of implementing eco-friendly ink in all our packaging products.
Security envelopes are a great choice if your company is shipping delicate products that just need an extra layer of protection. Photo albums, ceramics, CDs, delicate electronics, or confidential documents, such as medical files – you name it, the security envelopes got you covered. Equipped with special safeguards in order to guarantee the protection and confidentiality of your parcels, these packaging solutions are tamper proof and leak proof – and are only produced on demand in order to meet the needs of our clients.
In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, simply ensuring secure transportation of goods is no longer sufficient. Alongside sustainability, customers often expect personalized packaging. Online retailers shipping products are evaluated based on the effort put into their packaging solutions.
In fact, one study has found that as much as 63% of consumers agree that packaging is as important as the brand itself, which makes eye-catching shipping packaging solutions very powerful tools to attract and retain customers. Careful attention to shipping packaging is a must – and that’s why we offer customization with water-based ink printing on Co-Ex Filbags, our versatile shipping bags that are perfect for shipping clothes, cosmetics and accessories among others.
Customization is a valuable tool for businesses, allowing you to stand out and show your customers that you care for their needs. And by incorporating water-based ink into your printed packaging, you send a clear message to your clients that you’re as committed to reducing your environmental impact as you can be! This not only sets you apart from competition but also builds trust with eco-conscious consumers, especially the younger generations.
Check our 80% recycled shipping mailers here – now available with water-based ink printing!
In a world where environmental concerns are paramount, aligning your brand with sustainable practices can be a game-changer. Did you know that almost 60% of consumers are now less likely to buy when the packaging is harmful to the environment? With consumers becoming more and more educated on the topic, it’s only a matter of time before solvent-based inks are condemned for their dubious environmental impact.
By adopting water-based ink early, you can get a competitive advantage and not only reduce your carbon footprint but also bolster your brand’s reputation. Choosing custom packaging with water-based ink, such as FILMAR’s security envelopes, showcases your commitment to responsible packaging and aligns your business with the values of eco-friendly consumers.
In today’s evolving landscape, environmental consciousness is steering businesses towards more sustainable packaging practices. Water-based ink, as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional solvent-based inks, has emerged as a crucial innovation in printing solutions for packaging, significantly altering the dynamics of the industry.
It seeks to address the shortcomings of traditional ink technologies, particularly solvent-based and oil-based inks, notorious for their environmental hazards. These inks comprise non-biodegradable components and additional chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air pollutants, that contribute to soil and water pollution, causing environmental degradation.
Water-based ink, with its primary solvent being water, presents a compelling case for environmental sustainability. It offers a safer disposal and decomposing process, mitigating the risk of harmful substances leaching into the environment. Furthermore, in contrast to traditional inks, water-based ink significantly minimizes health risks for workers by eliminating the emission of harmful fumes.
Water-based eco-friendly ink champions quality without compromise, allowing for precise printing of digital images and designs onto a diverse range of paper types. Maintaining the visual appeal of your packaging while minding sustainability has never been easier – and it is exactly what consumers expect.
This ink isn’t just an eco-conscious solution; it also resonates with customers. Nowadays, packaging is perceived as equally important as the brand itself. Opting for visually appealing, eco-friendly packaging can truly make a business stand out. By choosing water-based ink for custom packaging, such as FILMAR’s security envelopes, a company displays its commitment to environmental responsibility and resonates with customers who share similar concerns.
The transition towards water-based ink is not merely a shift in technology; it’s part of a larger shift towards sustainability, driven by the need for cleaner and more environmentally responsible production processes. It’s about delivering top-notch printing, maintaining a visually appealing product, and, most importantly, making a positive impact on the environment—all bundled into one innovative package!
While our ultimate goal is achieving 100% recyclable packaging mailers and total climate neutrality of our operations, we are continuously striving towards that vision. In the meantime, we take pride in offering a diverse range of eco-friendly products that contribute to a healthier planet.
With the option to customize shipping packaging using water-based ink, you can now send a powerful message about your company’s commitment to the environment, making your parcels greener, safer, and more appealing. Start with discovering our eco-friendly Co-Ex Filbags and security envelopes.
Choose our certified eco-friendly mailers today:
Before we delve into the world of water-based ink, it’s essential to understand the existing ink technologies available on the market. Historically, solvent-based and oil-based inks have been popular choices in various industries. However, these traditional inks come with their set of environmental concerns.
There are 3 essential components to ink: varnishes, oil and pigments. As these are not all natural, traditional ink is not biodegradable. Oil that is used in manufacturing modern paint is often petroleum-based. Moreover, most popular inks are often laced with additional chemicals that – much like preservatives in food – are supposed to enhance its quality and durability. These plastic or synthetic polymers are also often made from crude oil, adding to the CO2 emissions.
Varnishes, lacquers, moistening solutions and washing solvents all contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air pollutants (HAPs). As Turkish Engineering and Design scientists note, “VOCs and HAPs, together with sunlight and nitrogen oxides, cause photochemical smoke and ground level ozone emission in the atmosphere.”
The negative impact of throwing heavily printed products into the garbage also has to be considered. The volatile organic compounds and heavy metals in ink can lead to soil and even water pollution when left in landfills. With individual ink cartridges and printed paper or plastic not always being disposed of properly, and the harmful emissions of VOCs and HAP, traditional ink is, little by little, amounting to a bigger environmental issue. This has led to a search for greener alternatives.
Water-based ink is an innovative solution that uses water as the primary solvent, reducing the need for harmful chemicals. This eco-friendly ink is made up of pigments or dyes suspended in water, making it a safe and sustainable option. The shift towards water-based ink in the packaging industry is driven by the need for cleaner and more environmentally responsible production methods.
Water-based ink is safer when it comes to disposal and decomposing, ensuring that no toxic substances leach into the environment. This is also because oils found in traditional ink are produced in a way that ensures they remain intact indefinitely.
Consequently, we are left with oil-based components, as well as microplastics and nanoplastics, persisting in the environment for many years, even decades after their initial use. It’s important to note that the decomposition process is a slow one, often spanning decades or even longer. This is not the case with water-based ink. The reduction in VOC emissions when switching to water-based ink can be as high as 95%.
But water-based ink isn’t just better for the environment; it’s also safer for the people involved in the production process. The materials generated during printing with traditional solvent-based ink, particularly during the drying phase, can lead to significant health issues.
These traditional inks generate harmful substances that in the short term can result in skin and eye irritations. Long term inhalation of ink fumes and odors may lead to conditions such as asthma, respiratory problems, and, in severe instances, even organ cancer. In fact, oil-based ink cartridges are often marked with labels indicating potential health hazards associated with these substances. Unlike traditional inks, water-based ink does not emit harmful fumes, making the working environment healthier for employees.
One of the primary reasons for embracing water-based ink printing is its eco-friendliness. It significantly reduces the environmental impact compared to solvent-based and oil-based inks. Let’s explore the many benefits of water-based inks together:
By choosing water-based printing on shipping packaging, companies can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future, reducing the carbon footprint of their shipments.
The switch to water-based ink doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. This printing technique enables the precise replication of digital images and designs, encompassing photographs and illustrations, onto a diverse range of paper types. In fact, it offers a whole range of benefits while maintaining the high standards you expect from your shipping packaging.
Despite being eco-friendly, water-based ink is incredibly versatile. Due to its composition primarily consisting of gentle resins, and evaporative water during the curing phase, most water-based ink permeates fabric more deeply than solvent-based inks, resulting in a softer print. However, it still allows for high-detail prints, vibrant colors, and sharp images. This means you can maintain the visual appeal of your shipping packaging while being kinder to the environment.
Photo by Silvano Audisio, Adobe Stock
However, when using water-based inks achieving a durable finish involves more than simply coating with ink…
Concerned about the durability of water-based ink for your e-commerce and business shipments? Worry not! Water-based ink can match the longevity and resilience of traditional inks, ensuring that your packaging design remains intact throughout the shipping process.
The objective of water-based inks is to ensure their full sensitivity to heat. When these inks undergo heating, they should maintain their integrity without flaking or fading. This can be achieved using various methods like a heat press, a drying tunnel, a tumble dryer, hand irons, or by subjecting the fabric to low-temperature baking. When done right, this process enhances their durability and resistance to heat and other types of damage.
Water-based inks were first used in arts and crafts like calligraphy and rubber stamping, but they have since made their way into printing and ads precisely because they create high-quality images that can endure different weather conditions and transport.
Ready to make the switch to water-based ink? At FILMAR, we believe that you should not have to choose between sustainable solutions and high-quality shipping packaging, especially when it comes to protecting the most valuable or confidential items. That’s why our security envelopes are now available with recycled plastic and safer, eco-friendly water-based ink. We have also upgraded our versatile shipping mailers. With 80% recycled plastic and water-based ink, the Co-Ex Filbag is now among the greenest choices on the market. And these are only the first steps towards our ultimate goal of implementing eco-friendly ink in all our packaging products.
Security envelopes are a great choice if your company is shipping delicate products that just need an extra layer of protection. Photo albums, ceramics, CDs, delicate electronics, or confidential documents, such as medical files – you name it, the security envelopes got you covered. Equipped with special safeguards in order to guarantee the protection and confidentiality of your parcels, these packaging solutions are tamper proof and leak proof – and are only produced on demand in order to meet the needs of our clients.
In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, simply ensuring secure transportation of goods is no longer sufficient. Alongside sustainability, customers often expect personalized packaging. Online retailers shipping products are evaluated based on the effort put into their packaging solutions.
In fact, one study has found that as much as 63% of consumers agree that packaging is as important as the brand itself, which makes eye-catching shipping packaging solutions very powerful tools to attract and retain customers. Careful attention to shipping packaging is a must – and that’s why we offer customization with water-based ink printing on Co-Ex Filbags, our versatile shipping bags that are perfect for shipping clothes, cosmetics and accessories among others.
Customization is a valuable tool for businesses, allowing you to stand out and show your customers that you care for their needs. And by incorporating water-based ink into your printed packaging, you send a clear message to your clients that you’re as committed to reducing your environmental impact as you can be! This not only sets you apart from competition but also builds trust with eco-conscious consumers, especially the younger generations.
Check our 80% recycled shipping mailers here – now available with water-based ink printing!
In a world where environmental concerns are paramount, aligning your brand with sustainable practices can be a game-changer. Did you know that almost 60% of consumers are now less likely to buy when the packaging is harmful to the environment? With consumers becoming more and more educated on the topic, it’s only a matter of time before solvent-based inks are condemned for their dubious environmental impact.
By adopting water-based ink early, you can get a competitive advantage and not only reduce your carbon footprint but also bolster your brand’s reputation. Choosing custom packaging with water-based ink, such as FILMAR’s security envelopes, showcases your commitment to responsible packaging and aligns your business with the values of eco-friendly consumers.
In today’s evolving landscape, environmental consciousness is steering businesses towards more sustainable packaging practices. Water-based ink, as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional solvent-based inks, has emerged as a crucial innovation in printing solutions for packaging, significantly altering the dynamics of the industry.
It seeks to address the shortcomings of traditional ink technologies, particularly solvent-based and oil-based inks, notorious for their environmental hazards. These inks comprise non-biodegradable components and additional chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air pollutants, that contribute to soil and water pollution, causing environmental degradation.
Water-based ink, with its primary solvent being water, presents a compelling case for environmental sustainability. It offers a safer disposal and decomposing process, mitigating the risk of harmful substances leaching into the environment. Furthermore, in contrast to traditional inks, water-based ink significantly minimizes health risks for workers by eliminating the emission of harmful fumes.
Water-based eco-friendly ink champions quality without compromise, allowing for precise printing of digital images and designs onto a diverse range of paper types. Maintaining the visual appeal of your packaging while minding sustainability has never been easier – and it is exactly what consumers expect.
This ink isn’t just an eco-conscious solution; it also resonates with customers. Nowadays, packaging is perceived as equally important as the brand itself. Opting for visually appealing, eco-friendly packaging can truly make a business stand out. By choosing water-based ink for custom packaging, such as FILMAR’s security envelopes, a company displays its commitment to environmental responsibility and resonates with customers who share similar concerns.
The transition towards water-based ink is not merely a shift in technology; it’s part of a larger shift towards sustainability, driven by the need for cleaner and more environmentally responsible production processes. It’s about delivering top-notch printing, maintaining a visually appealing product, and, most importantly, making a positive impact on the environment—all bundled into one innovative package!
While our ultimate goal is achieving 100% recyclable packaging mailers and total climate neutrality of our operations, we are continuously striving towards that vision. In the meantime, we take pride in offering a diverse range of eco-friendly products that contribute to a healthier planet.
With the option to customize shipping packaging using water-based ink, you can now send a powerful message about your company’s commitment to the environment, making your parcels greener, safer, and more appealing. Start with discovering our eco-friendly Co-Ex Filbags and security envelopes.
Choose our certified eco-friendly mailers today:
