Emerging trends and technologies in sustainable inks

Manufacturers and converters today require inks that do far more than produce attractive print. Inks used must help packaging pass through recycling systems, comply with global regulations, and perform reliably on next- generation materials. As the regulatory landscape evolves, one thing is clear: the future of ink is tightly linked to eco-friendly packaging innovation.

1)  Sustainable, next-generation chemistries developed for new substrates
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Ink innovation is evolving to meet new sustainability demands, with formulations shifting toward renewable colourants, biobased ingredients, and plant-oil-based formulations. These chemistries are specifically engineered to perform well on the growing volume of fibre-based, bio-based, and recyclable substrates and mono-materials entering the market, helping converters protect print quality as customers transition to more sustainable packaging.

2)  Low-VOC, water-based, and renewable-solvent ink systems
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The latest ink platforms are dramatically reducing emissions by replacing traditional solvents with low-VOC, MEK-free systems and water-based inks for corrugated and monochrome printing.

Ecosolvents, such as limonene and ethyl lactate, help improve operator safety and reduce odour, allowing converters to meet stricter air-quality standards without changing standard production workflows. Bio-based ethanol, butanol, pinene, methyl and ethyl soyate have also been noted for having excellent biodegradability.

3)  PFAS-free and pollutant-reduced formulations
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While Domino’s ink formulations have been PFAS-free for a long time, many ink manufacturers are now removing PFAS from new ink ranges to meet 2026 legislation deadlines. There is also a move to eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This innovation reduces compliance risk by meeting current and future regulations, pre-empting the need for future ink reformulation, and assures converters of long-term regulatory compatibility with tightening regulatory frameworks such as PPWR and EPR.

4)  Design for recyclability and high-performance deinking

Several new ink technologies directly improve substrate recycling outcomes, including primers that enable UV-cured inks to be removed more easily and plant-oil-based inks that perform well in enzyme-based deinking processes. These developments reduce the likelihood of downgraded recyclate, helping converters to deliver products that meet stricter recycling performance expectations.

5)  Optimisation for energy-efficient curing and drying

Fast-drying aqueous ink systems, such as Domino’s AQ95 inkset for corrugated printing, are formulated to dry efficiently. This reduces the number of drying modules required, cutting the press footprint, and reducing carbon emissions by lowering energy consumption. For converters, this means faster throughput, lower overheads, and improved sustainability scores.

Ink systems optimised for UV LED curing represent another technology upgrade. This shift allows converters to reduce energy consumption, remove mercury-based curing lamps, and achieve safer, more stable curing.

Future-proofing printed packaging

Converters can help brands seeking to futureproof their packaging against evolving, sustainability-driven, regulatory demands by working with a trusted equipment partner that invests heavily in in-house ink development and manufacture. Access to novel ink formulations optimised for their press can help converters improve compatibility with emerging substrates, enhance deinking and recycling outcomes for brand owners, and reduce compliance risk.