Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development and a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, today reported its participation as a key partner in CCL ASEAN’s first event “Sustainability Day Southeast Asia,” held at CCL ASEAN’s headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand on January 21. The event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and brand owners from the ASEAN region to exchange ideas and strategies for advancing sustainability in packaging and printing.

Reinhard Streit, vice president and managing director for Food & Beverage at CCL, kicked off the event with a welcoming address. The agenda included a panel discussion on Thailand’s direction in plastic management, followed by interactive sessions and demonstrations of sustainable products and technologies.

Ronnapop Viraratt, general manager at CCL Label Thailand, commented, “The main purpose of this event is to show our audiences many aspects of sustainability in packaging, from label raw material to label applicator and from printing plate maker to plastic bottle recycler. Asahi always pushes the sustainability limit of plate making into the next step. We hope the audiences find the event educational yet interesting as we all contribute to our world.”

A highlight of Asahi Photoproducts’ event contribution was sharing findings from a recent study comparing flexographic and gravure printing in terms of environmental impact. The study demonstrated that flexographic printing using water-wash plates and water-based inks can reduce up to 35 times fewer carbon emissions than gravure printing with solvent-based inks. This reduction reinforces the environmental advantages of flexo technology and its potential to drive more sustainable packaging solutions.

In the packaging market in the USA and Europe, flexo printing is prevalent, accounting for 70% of the market in the USA and about 50% of Europe. Despite these advancements, gravure printing is still prevalent in Asia, particularly in China, accounting for more than 90% of the market. These findings support Asahi’s long-standing commitment to sustainability through its water-washable AWP plates with CleanPrint technology, which eliminate the need for solvents in the platemaking process. This approach aligns with Asahi Kasei’s “Roadmap to Solvent ZERO,” aimed at reducing solvent use in flexo platemaking.

As global regulations and brand owners increasingly prioritize sustainability, Asahi’s AWP plates provide a proven, eco-balanced alternative that supports the industry’s transition toward lower environmental impact.

“With increasing demand for environmentally responsible printing solutions, our CleanPrint water-washable technology provides a clear path to significantly lower carbon footprints without compromising quality or productivity,” said Tomohiro Ikawa, marketing director from Asahi Kasei. “Our participation in Sustainability Day reflects our mission to deliver sustainable innovations that align with customer needs and regulatory requirements.”

Asahi Kasei’s broader sustainability strategy is deeply embedded in its corporate mission of contributing to “life and living for people around the world.” The company is committed to achieving carbon neutrality across all operations by 2050. Events such as Sustainability Day ASEAN serve as a platform for driving collaborative efforts to accelerate this transition.

The event also featured key contributions from other partners, including Avery Dennison Thailand, Krones Thailand, Envicco and Kurz who offered complementary insights into sustainable packaging and recycling solutions.

The day concluded with a guided tour of CCL’s state-of-the-art facilities, allowing attendees to witness innovations in sustainable production firsthand. The event concluded on a high note with a compelling closing speech delivered by Geoffrey Martin, CEO at CCL.