In recent years, environmental issues have come to the forefront of public discourse. For businesses, one of the most pressing concerns is reducing our carbon footprint and finding ways to minimize damage to the environment.
Similarly, for printing businesses, using sustainable inks has become a necessity to retain the ethical nature of their business.
Good-quality water-based inks are sustainable substitutes that are being used by the printing industry to reduce their negative impact on the environment.
However, if you are still unaware of the benefits of using water-based ink, this blog is for you.
In this blog, we will discuss how water-based inks are gaining attention for their eco-friendly benefits in the printing industry.
Post Contents
What Are Water-Based Inks?
Water-based inks are printing inks that use water as a solvent instead of petroleum-based chemicals like those used in traditional ink formulations.
This makes them an environmentally friendly alternative that reduces pollution while retaining high-quality print standards.
Benefits Of Water-Based Inks
1. Environmentally Friendly
Water-based inks are considered much more environmentally friendly compared to solvent-based counterparts due to reduced air and water pollution during production and printing processes.
Moreover, they do not emit harmful volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere upon application, which reduces greenhouse gasses responsible for climate change.
2. Non-Toxic
Water-based inks have minimal toxicity levels since they do not contain hazardous heavy metals such as lead or cadmium found in traditional solvents used for printing ink production.
This makes them safe not only for the environment but also for industrial workers who interact with them daily.
3. Reduced Health Risks
Due to their low toxicity levels, using water-based inks eliminates several health risks associated with conventional solvent-based printing technologies, such as respiratory problems, skin irritation, headaches, and even nervous system disorders, which can develop from working with toxins on a long-term basis.
4. High Quality Prints
Many people assume that water-based inks mean lower-quality prints.
However, this isn’t true at all! Water-based inks provide excellent color reproduction and produce vibrant images on various substrates, including paper and fabric, because they penetrate fibers well, creating a more solid print effect when compared with conventional solvent-based alternatives.
5. Cost Effective Solution
The initial cost of investing in eco-friendly supplies like water-based inks may seem high, but in the long run, they provide a cost-effective printing solution because they minimize the need for additional solvents and harsh chemicals required during production processes.
Additionally, by reducing risks associated with hazardous chemicals, companies employing this alternative technology can enjoy lower insurance costs.
6. Versatility
Water-based inks are versatile as they can be used for a range of printing formats – from screenprinting to digital and flexographic printing.
They also come in a wide range of colors, including metallic shades, making them ideal for any project requiring premium-quality prints.
7. Improved Durability
Thanks to improved ink formulations over recent years, water-based inks have an extended shelf life, which means that even printed materials last longer than prints made using conventional solvent-based alternatives.
Are There Any Disadvantages?
Despite these benefits, it’s worth noting some downsides to using water-based inks.
First off, you have to ensure the paper being printed on is completely dry before shipping or storage purposes. Otherwise, the ink may transfer onto other surfaces, resulting in discoloration.
Additionally, due to their fast drying time (as compared with traditional solvent-based alternatives), once opened up, unused containers must be stored adequately sealed at room temperature no more than six months after the first use, or else water-based inks degrade like unstable substances or never go bad thus becoming ineffective for use later on.
Conclusion
In today’s world, where environmental concerns are gaining increased attention every day, adopting eco-friendly business practices should be part of everyone’s responsibility as a citizen and corporation as well!
Water-based inks provide an excellent step towards achieving this goal, helping reduce pollution levels while still allowing for high-quality print results with minimal health risks involved for users.
By switching over to this alternative technology, businesses will not only save money but contribute positively towards creating a better future benefiting both our planet and children! You can start enjoying all these advantages by choosing water-based ink technologies today!!
