Solar Inks launches Earthinks

Solar Inks, a specialist supplier of inks for flexographic and screen printing, said Earthinks offer sustainability benefits as well as high-performance, and are a cost-effective alternative to standard inks.

Earthinks are made from natural ingredients including soy, starch, sugars, dextrin, tree resin, cellulose and other polysaccharides. Natural waxes are used to replace standard petroleum-based synthetics, and natural oils are used to defoam instead of mineral oils. Earthinks are also glycol and silicone-free, contain no heavy metals and have near-zero VOC levels.

The inks have been developed from sustainable and non-polluting resources, and designed to provide printers and converters with high-quality and versatile inks that can be used to further achieve their environmental goals, while meeting customer expectations.

Earthinks have been developed with a low viscosity and low foaming levels to deliver sharp images with lower dot gain than standard inks. In-house color mixing is also an option, providing printers and converters the ability to facilitate special color production on-demand.

Earthinks can be used on a wide variety of substrates to print corrugated and flexible packaging, labels, envelopes and a full range of papers from till rolls and paper cups to paper bags and gift wrap, including recycled stocks.

In addition, an ink recycling program saves time and waste, while online color matching and product ordering provide a streamlined and efficient customer experience, while customers can also access their full order history online, evaluate stocks and usage, and review technical service visit reports.

Jonathan Mack, owner of Solar Inks, said: ‘Earthinks marks an important development in sustainable printing.

‘We have worked hard to provide affordable, high-quality inks that meet today's demands for environmental care as well as matching that with environmentally-friendly packaging. In addition, our recycling programme ensures minimal waste and good value for customers.’