With the label and package printing industry focusing on sustainability, INX International Ink Co. has designed its latest products with the environment in mind. Renee Schouten, vice president of marketing, joins L&NW to explain how INX is positioning its customers for a more sustainable and profitable future with new products like Genesis washable inks for flexo and gravure printing. Schouten is an industry expert who has worked with INX since 2001.

L&NW: What is the INX philosophy on sustainability?
RS: No one organization can protect our planet and achieve game-changing sustainability goals by going at it alone. INX International is dedicated to driving increased sustainability throughout our value chain – with our suppliers, our customers, and in the communities and regions in which we live and operate. Our mission is to lead the industry in delivering innovative, safe, and sustainable solutions that enhance the customer experience. To realize our vision of a sustainable future where responsible manufacturers, suppliers and customers work together to create eco-friendly products, we innovate packaging, products, and sensorial experiences that are safe, sustainable, and support the circular economy.

Learn more about INX’s Sustainability Program here.

L&NW: What are the benefits of new products like Genesis, and how do they meet demand for sustainable inks?
RS: Sustainability is the emergent driving force across the print and packaging marketplace, and printing inks play an essential role. Sustainable inks are gaining increased attention with growing R&D investments for solutions that use natural-based ingredients that reduce carbon emissions, eliminate layers to make packages lighter and enable recycling and the circular reuse of materials.

With a product like our Genesis washable inks for flexo and gravure printing, the recycling of plastic films is made easier allowing for the circular reuse of recovered material. Genesis washable inks are de-inkable from cPET films and floatable with roll-fed OPP labels in the recycling process.

L&NW: How does this technology help promote the recyclability of label materials?
RS: Traditionally, during the recycling process, conventionally printed inks bleed during the caustic bath phase, discoloring the wash solution and contaminating the plastic, so it cannot be recycled as a new product. Because Genesis washable inks are deinkable from plastic packaging and considering the advanced formulation of pigment particles, there is minimal bleed in the caustic wash solution and a reduced impact on recycled PET discoloration.

New clear bottles can be made from the circular reuse of recovered material, contributing to a circular economy, boosting the worldwide recycling rate and reducing the volume of plastic bottles in the marine environment.

L&NW: What are the advantages of meeting and exceeding the PET-CG-02 Critical Guidance Protocol established by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)?
RS: Innovation is a significant driver of the recovered materials economy. Ideally, package manufacturers and brands innovate recycling-compatible package design, and plastic reclaimers innovate to accept and process more diverse supply streams into a wider range of recycled content products.

APR’s Design Recognition Program celebrates and showcases innovations in packaging design. This program was established to encourage innovators to conduct testing and confirm any impact of new plastics designs and components on recycling, and to help companies seeking sustainable packaging to find recyclable solutions. The APR Design Recognition Program comprises four different levels of review and recognition for plastic packaging. The Critical Guidance Recognition recognizes significant new technologies, such as Genesis Washable inks, that solve long-standing problems in sustainable package design, and encourages wide commercial use of such innovation. The APR recognition is based on the innovation meeting or exceeding the most challenging test conditions and strictest guidance criteria.

Our Genesis GS gravure solvent formula is a patented technology that meets the stringent APR critical guidance for recycling of PET bottles with shrink sleeves.

L&NW: How has customer feedback over the years impacted INX’s R&D efforts in this space?
RS: There has never been more attention from customers, shareholders, or employees to embrace and embed sustainability within a business’ products, services, and culture. As consumer demands and regulatory requirements multiply, our R&D efforts are focused on improving the sustainability of our products and bringing to market new innovations that increase productivity and lower costs while employing reduce, reuse and recycle. We are committed to formulating high-performance products that have minimal impact on the environment using renewable, natural-based raw materials from ethical and sustainably managed sources. Our development efforts focus on material health and safety, product functionality for environmental impact, and consumer safety with a mind for recycle-ready products. We believe with the right focus and R&D capabilities, we can help our customers innovate and achieve their sustainability goals while delivering greater value to their customers.

L&NW: What can we look forward to in the future from INX?
RS: As consumer demands and regulatory requirements multiply, we are committed to enhancing and growing our leadership position in the industry and addressing the needs of brand owners, customers and consumers by improving the sustainability of our products and refining the systems that measure the sustainability impacts of our business.

At INX, delivering innovative, safe and sustainable solutions that enhance the customer experience is our top priority and will continue to guide our product development strategy into the future. We will develop our products to have minimal impact on the environment without sacrificing machine, processing, and end-use product performance.

For more information on or sustainable products and services visit us here.