February 11, 2009
Foreign Pressure Driving China’s “Green Ink” Industry
Market pressure and foreign regulations are driving China toward more eco-friendly printing practices, announced consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.
Though regulations against petroleum-based inks on food packaging are non-compulsory in China, they are mandatory in the western market China sells to. These regulations and the appeal of “Green Packaging” are pushing the Chinese ink industry forward.
Printing ink is one of the most polluting materials used in packaging, but cash-strapped Chinese companies don’t have budgets for R&D, according to the firm. So it is regulations prohibiting aromatic and solvent-based inks, like EU’s REACH, that are accelerating the transition to greener inks, and will eventually eliminate ink-makers who do not comply, the firm predicts.
Water-based ink is the only qualified ink for food and pharmaceutical packaging in the west, the firm says, and with recent food safety scares the Chinese government is stepping up oversight on the chemicals used in foods and food packaging. Big events like the 2010 Shanghai World Expo will continue to keep focus on Chinese ink, an industry that is predicted to grow at 10% annually over the next several years. Additionally, China will soon be able to produce soy and vegetable-based inks, which it now imports, and this will diversify the eco-friendly Chinese ink market.
Advertisers
Pew Center Conference: Corporate Energy Efficiency
Reduce energy consumption, lower emissions and save money. >>
Join the Discussion
Recent Daily News [ see all ]
- 02/09/2010
- 02/08/2010
- 02/05/2010
- Caterpillar Puts Weight Behind $1.5B FutureGen CCS Project
- WR Grace Targets 20% Energy Intensity Cuts
- As UK Cap and Trade Falters, Government May Prop Up Carbon Prices
- Federal Government Proposes Climate Change Office
- University of Florida Football Complex Uses 25% Less Energy Than Similar Buildings
- 34% of Execs Cite Economy As Impediment to Adopting Sustainability
- Energy Storage Project Aims to Extend Utility of Solar Power
- Ford to Debut Electric Commercial Van
- SF OKs $150M in Property Tax Financing for Energy Efficiency, Renewables
- BNSF Signs Deal for Measuring Energy Efficiency
- Roundup: GE, IBM, Audi ‘Green Police,’ EU Carbon
- Accidental to Purposeful Sustainability: Using What You Already Have to Grow Sustainability
- Holiday Inn Express, Bardessono Boast Energy Efficiency, Renewables
- Massachusetts Adds $20M in Solar to 12 Wastewater Plants
- Novo Nordisk Cuts CO2 Emissions by 32%, Water Use by 20%
- Roundup: Dr. Suess Cease-and-Desist, Philips, EPA, Melting Drywall
- Canadian Environment Minister Denounces Quebec Vehicle Emissions Regs
- Energy-Efficient Lighting Saves Canadian Tire $6M in 2009
- Pixar Data Center Saves Money Via Cold Aisle Containment
- HVAC Software Helps University of Texas Save $500K a Year
- Data Centers Can Apply for Energy Star Rating in June
- Rytec’s Fast Cold Storage Door Helps Save Energy
- Burt’s Bees Decreases Waste to Landfill by 51.5% in 2009
- National RES Would Benefit Southeastern, Manufacturing States
- TBR Evaluates Sustainability Strategies at Dell, CSC, Cisco
- CEO Report Envisions $6 Trillion in Sustainable New Business Opportunities
- IBM ‘Cloud Computing’ Data Center Saves 15% in Energy Costs
- Bipartisan Senatorial Effort Seeks Cap and Trade for non-CO2 Emissions
- Collapsible Ocean Shipping Container May Help Reduce Emissions
- To Ensure Future Compliance, Utility Asks for CO2 Limits
- Analyzing Energy-Efficiency Metrics Can Reduce Energy Use in Data Centers
- Goose Island Touts Low-Carbon Brew
Charts [ see all ]
Popular Topics
Energy Efficiency
Data Center
Emissions
Facilities
Electricity
Sustainability
Water
Supply Chain
Efficiency
Green Marketing
Strategy & Leadership
Research
Fleets & Transportation
Carbon Finance
Conventional Energy
Clean Energy
Waste & Recycling
Paper & Packaging
Policy & Law
Utilities
Construction
Comments and Discussions
John Bergdoll on Accidental to Purposeful Sustainability: Using What You Already Have to Grow Sustainability
"I was following the logic your article..."
Liz Amason on Clorox Comes Clean With Chemical Content on Web Site
"But look at their ingredients listings. For example, their regular liquid bleach..."
Rigidflexibility on Companies Going Green Should Ignore Green Consumer
"I was about to market a metal working fluid that is 98>% Soybean oil and..."
Stuart on Canadian Environment Minister Denounces Quebec Vehicle Emissions Regs
"Canadians have been waiting for the feds to act on climate change for..."
Steve Wolford on Sports Teams Embrace Sustainability
"Hello Environmental Leader, We just returned from the National Sport Forum in Baltimore. Team and..."
Mauibrad on Bipartisan Senatorial Effort Seeks Cap and Trade for non-CO2 Emissions
"Finally some enlightened ideas out of Congress!"
Cameron Green on Data Centers Can Apply for Energy Star Rating in June
"I did a blog post about this. Essentially PUE doesn’t give you very much..."





Reader Comments
To All Readers of Foreign Pressure Driving China’s “Green Ink” Industry,
Please be advised that the references to ” printing ink is one of the most polluting materials used in packaging” is completely inaccurate. It is so generalized and vague to the point of being technically unsupportable, subjective, inflammatory, and unprofessional.The other statement, “water-based ink is the only qualified ink for food and pharmaceutical packaging in the west” is again a false statement. Currently packaging is being printed with oil-based, solvent-based, energy curable and water-based inks without issue. In the United States the FDA only regulates inks used on packaging when they are either a direct or indirect food additive. FDA does not regulate inks when there is an effedctive functional barrier between the printed substrate nd the food product. The National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) has contacted Frost & Sullivan to take corrective action on this document. It is very unfortunate that this type of misinformation is distributed in the public media.
john daugherty | October 20th, 2009