The question ‘how environmentally friendly are your inks?' is a bit like the question ‘how long is a piece of string?' - such is the complexity of the claims and counter-claims, and of the technical specifications of so-called ‘green' inks, that it is easy to become bogged down in details without ever coming to a conclusion as to exactly which process is better for the environment.

However, one thing is clear: there is overwhelming demand from printers and their customers to have more environmentally friendly products, and this is driving ink manufacturers to develop products that tick several boxes.

But it's not an easy process and there is a view that, while an ink can help make your colours vibrant as well as green, it's the printing process that really makes the difference.

Kenny Boyd, environmental services consultant at Fujifilm Sericol, outlines the problem: "What do you mean by an environmentally friendly ink? People often ask if the product is sustainable, but they do not really understand what the term means. That is the problem. The best environmental option is looking at the bigger picture."

The options
So, how have the manufacturers responded? Sun Chemical has committed to using vegetable oils in the production of its inks. "Well over 80% of our products are based on vegetable products," says John Adkin, Sun Chemical production director for sheetfed and UV curing products for Europe and Africa. "There is a very real choice between using mineral oils and vegetable oils. We had developed products using both, but, by talking to our customers and end-users, we decided that crop-based raw materials were more environmentally responsible."

Fujifilm Sericol also claims that it has come up with an environmental winner with its range of UV inks. The firm has a background in screen printing and is also making strides in the digital arena, especially in the wide-format market.
"UV becomes more interesting moving forward with inkjet technology," explains Tudor Morgan, European graphic marketing manager at Fujifilm Sericol. "It is a very stable product and, as it's 100% solid, there are no volatile organic compounds (VOC), which is better for meeting health and safety requirements."

David Grey, managing director at Classic Colours, argues that waterless inks are also a "good environmental choice". He says that, like Sun Chemical, soya-based inks are less harmful to the environment than mineral oil-based inks. Waterless has the added bonus of not using any fount solution. "You get a good colour balance more quickly and it is easier to de-ink for recycling," he adds.

And it's that final point that helps illustrate the main appeal of environmentally friendly inks - their impact on the wider printing process. Inks can have positive knock-on effects and boost a company's green credentials.

Part of the loop
Adkin argues that the ink should play a part in a printer's ‘environmental loop': from the production stage all the way through to recycling. The right inks can reduce the amount of energy used in the printing process: fast drying inks mean that there is no need for energy-hungry drying units, while sticking to the standard four-colour process generates its own benefits.

"If you look at the comparison between printing just four-colours and using a spot colour, then the former doesn't require a wash-up between jobs," explains Adkin.

In order to work out just how big a carbon footprint an ink leaves on the print process, Sun Chemical joined forces with a Bertelsmann subsidiary in France, which prints the weekly news magazine VSD. Taking every element into account, the partners calculated that 5% of the carbon share could be attributed to the ink.

"It was a very big project for us," explains Bertrand Lousteau, Sun Chemical Europe marketing director for publication inks. "It gave us a clear idea of how much ink has an impact on the overall picture."

Lousteau argues that the only way an ink can be truly green is if it ticks the maximum number of boxes possible. For example, an ink that reduces its reliance on harmful VOCs is of huge benefit, but it might not be recyclable.

"Take flexo inks," he says. "They are very good environmentally as they are water-based. They have no VOCs, but, at the same time, flexo newsprint is not 100% recyclable. You may have a product that's perfect in one direction, but you need to make sure that it's good in other areas."

And that's just one obstacle that ink manufacturers have to overcome when trying to develop the greenest ink - cost, inevitably, is also a major factor.

For instance, waterless inks may have their environmental advantages, but will entail extra expense. "Not everyone will pick up on the waterless process because there can be a fair amount of capital expenditure involved," says Classic Colours' Grey. "You may need to invest in an additional plate processor that will set you back £15,000-£40,000. But most modern presses are equipped with temperature controls and are set up for waterless."

Clear choices
Vegetable oil-based inks also bring up the thorny issue of whether it is ethical to produce a crop as a raw material. Sun Chemical's Adkin acknowledges the potential dilemma, but argues that the choice is clear. "You have a straight choice," he says. "You can have material from mineral oil or vegetable oils. The ink still has to adhere to the paper, but needs to be safe in the workplace. We have chosen to use soya and rape seed for the raw material. And it isn't a raw material that will disappear, unlike mineral oil."

UV inks also have their critics relating to how they adhere to certain substrates, such as plastics. "UV is the best option environmentally, but it does not deliver the best coverage," admits Fujifilm Sericol's Boyd.

Morgan adds that the manufacturer has encountered some stability issues, which are now being overcome and Fujifilm Sericol is keen to spot potential future issues relating to its UV inkjet inks.

"Everything is about the lifespan of the product," he says. "We look at waste issues, the health and safety of machine operators and we monitor the atmosphere and many other issues."

In some cases, taking out chemicals has meant that the manufacturer has taken a short-term hit in sales. "There are some chemicals that have not been banned by the EU, but Fujifilm is concerned with the environment and we have always taken these kind of decisions," adds Morgan. "Our customers need to trust us and they look for brands that offer service and support. The environmental stance is one we have taken on all product developments."

Conflicting evidence
The conflicting evidence surrounding ‘green' inks is enough to make anyone's head spin. "I can imagine that it's a nightmare for jobbing printers," says Fujifilm Sericol's Boyd. "You have health and safety issues, energy usage and wastage on top of products themselves. They are often driven by their customers."

Boyd's advice is simple: when choosing an environmentally friendly ink, shop around and talk to as many people as possible. It's sound advice for any print business that wants to green up its act; the pressure on companies on this subject is unrelenting and there is a real need to keep on top of the endless developments.

But printers also need to be aware that ink isn't the be-all and end-all in the printing process. While the greener inks do make an impact, having solid all-round environmental programme in place is more likely to please those demanding customers in the long term.

Green Inks - recent developments

• Earlier this month, Colorific unveiled its new range of third-party products, which it claims offer solid green credentials. The Colorific Bio range is 90% biodegradable and ISO 9001 compliant. Designed for printers that use Epson DX3 and DX4 printheads, the products are also suitable for use without laminating or coating.
• In May, Belgian ink company One Solution promoted its range of eco-solvent inks at Fespa Digital. The range includes One Jade Ink series, which is designed for super-wide format printing. It also pushed its UV-curable range, One Pearl, which is available in eight colours and is claimed to be able to last 36 months outdoors.
• Also in May, Durst claimed that its Rho Roll Ink was the first digital ink to gain the coverted Nordic Swan Ecolabel. The inks are VOC-free and have also been accredited to Toy Standard EN17 Part 3, which limits the concentration of certain heavy metals in coatings that will be used in products aimed at children.