How do vegetable based inks help the planet?

New technologies and materials are available all the time to help us protect our greatest gift and asset: our planet. Vegetable based inks are made out of pigments, an oil based liquid and a binding agent. These ingredients create amazing colour that lasts.

Vegetable based inks protect the atmosphere

Petroleum based ink is the most common ink. However, during the drying process, the petrol and alcohol component evaporates which results in up to 30 per cent of Volatile Organic Compounds being released into the air. VOCs, namely fuels, paint-thinners and drying agents, are often man-made chemicals that add to pollution and lower the quality of the atmosphere. 

Solvents also release VOCs, and they are used to clean the press after a printing job with petroleum based ink.

Vegetable based inks, on the other hand, release only about 3 per cent of VOCs, and no solvents are needed to clean the press - beautiful!

Vegetable based inks reduce waste and are renewable

Unlike petroleum based inks, vegetable based inks do not have to be de-inked when products are recycled, meaning there is no toxic waste. They also break down a lot faster and more completely, meaning the whole process is cleaner and more efficient.

Crude oil is a non-renewable resource that petroleum based inks rely on. On the other hand, vegetable based inks are created with the help of sources such as corn, linseed and canola, all of which are completely renewable.

Did you know, they also don't cost any more than regular ink? Recycled paper and vegetable based inks go together like a dream. You'll get amazing colour, stunning paper stock and a great print job and it will all be completely eco-friendly.

All PrintTogether offset jobs are printed using vegetable based inks.

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