Nitrocellulose-free inks, new barrier coatings are important developments in the packaging segment.

Siegwerk has developed a fully recyclable mono-PE bag for dry pet food using its CIRKIT functional coatings. (Source: Siegwerk)

Packaging is used for virtually everything we buy. It is a field that is constantly evolving, with new packaging concepts that protect goods while catching the attention of consumers. Meanwhile, regulatory mandates are constantly changing what can be used in formulations. Packaging ink industry leaders note that this is leading to innovative technologies for both in packaging and inks.

One area of interest is eliminating certain chemicals that have been used over the years for packaging. Nitrocellulose (NC) is a major example. New barrier coatings is another area of interest.

Doug Aldred, chief commercial officer and CEO and president of Packaging Inks North America for Flint Group, observed that flexible packaging printers are increasingly seeking nitrocellulose-free (NC-free) inks and exploring alternative technologies based on polyurethane (PU) chemistry.

“To meet this demand, Flint Group offers a comprehensive range of NC-free inks designed for high-performance printing,” Aldred said.

“In the Paper & Board sector, bio-based materials that are both recyclable and compostable provide a sustainable solution for printers,” he added. “These innovative materials not only align with sustainability goals but also deliver premium print quality. Flint Group offers inks and coatings which suit these requirements.

“For narrow web label printing, Flint Group's EkoCure dual-curing ink range offers printers the flexibility to transition to UV LED at their own pace while ensuring outstanding print performance,” Aldred noted. “Additionally, Flint Group's Evolution primers and varnishes enhance the recyclability of shrink labels, supporting a more sustainable packaging industry. Finally, advancements in barrier coatings are proving to be highly impactful, offering both sustainability benefits and enhanced efficiency in packaging design and printing.”

Hideki Ohba, GM, Marketing Department, International Division, Toyo Ink Co., Ltd., reported that several game-changing technologies are emerging that will define the next generation of packaging.

“Barrier coatings for recyclable mono-material films, for instance, are helping brands transition to fully recyclable flexible packaging,” Ohba said. “PVC-free, NC-free and solvent-free ink systems are aligning with new regulations and brand sustainability goals. At Toyo Ink, we continue to invest in sustainable packaging innovations to meet the evolving needs of the market.”

Dr. Nicolas Wiedmann, Siegwerk’s CEO, said that sustainability is proving to be a driver for these changes.

“The growing focus of printers and brand owners on sustainable packaging solutions and the use of renewable materials in ink formulations will drive the development activities in all ink technologies in line with the general market demand for sustainable solutions,” Dr. Wiedmann said. “In this context, our focus is, for example, on innovations free of nitrocellulose (NC).

“Although NC-based inks offer many advantages such as high resistance, fast drying and excellent adhesion, which has made them a common solution in packaging printing for a long time, they are also known for significantly hindering the material recycling process and can cause a reduced recyclate quality,” added Dr. Wiedmann.

“Our experts have now developed a series of inks based on a new generation of polyurethane (PU) resins that can replace nitrocellulose in our inks,” he noted. “This allows our customers to create NC-free flexible packaging that is not only recyclable but also offers comparable high packaging performance in lamination and surface applications.”

Dr. Wiedmann said that other trends Siegwerk is focusing on include the shift from multi- to mono-material structures and the use of renewable materials like paper for a wider range of packaging.

“Here, we are primarily focusing on the development of barrier coatings, as these play a key role for the realization of suitable packaging solutions,” said Dr. Wiedmann. “They can, for example, help to replace extra layers of material or provide renewable materials with the necessary functional properties to enable their use for completely new applications. Today, Siegwerk can already look back on several successful development projects with customers and industry partners that have resulted in advanced and, in some cases, even award-winning packaging solutions with improved performance and recyclability.”

Paul Edwards, VP of the Digital division at INX International Ink Co., noted that there are many new and innovative digital technologies emerging and mentioned a few that will have an impact.

“New rigid substrates, based upon different types of fiber technology, look innovative and are leading a move away from more plastic-based packaging over time,” said Edwards.

"A second area I have been impressed with is the corrugated box forming and printing system on display from Packsize and EFI,” Edwards added. “It is an on-demand creation of a specific package size for a product to be shipped, along with inline digital print - a real mixture of sustainability and digital print. 

"I think the development of functional coatings to allow for the creation of simpler and more sustainable flexible packaging solutions - provided by the likes of DetraPel - will be a significant advancement,” Edwards observed. “And being more parochial, INX Digital has developed new and advantaged low migration technology for LED curing systems, which can be applied to many different packaging applications."