December 2007 —Should You Make the Switch to Soy-Based Inks?

Soy inks are derived from soybeans, a widely available renewable resource. Primarily used for printing books, newspapers and magazines, soy-based inks are increasingly finding a home in a diverse range of applications such as packaging, business forms and general commercial printing.

As printers grapple with rising production costs and ever-tightening environmental regulations, switching to soybean-based inks deserves more consideration than ever before.  The most obvious reason is that soy inks help reduce the environmental burden of the printing industry. However, this is just the beginning. When compared to traditional petroleum-based inks, soy inks offer some distinct advantages:

• Less paper waste. Printing with soy ink generates less paper waste during press runs. This reduces overall disposal volumes and lowers disposal costs.

• Recycling. Waste paper printed with soy-based inks is easier to recycle and also results in a better quality recycled product.

• Less ink required. Soy inks provide more intense color so printers may be able to use less ink, which is especially important on projects with heavy ink coverage. In some cases, the higher initial cost of the ink can be overcome by reduced ink volume.

• Stable formulas. Soy inks maintain their lithographic stability throughout the entire print job. As a result, press operators often make fewer adjustments during production and reject fewer sheets due to inferior quality.

• Attractive image. Soy inks are much clearer than other vegetable and petro-based oils, producing vibrant, brighter and sharper printed colors.

Those planning to incorporate soybean oils into their printing operation should be aware of three challenges. First, soy inks are more expensive than petroleum-based inks. Second, the price of soy ink is subject to more short term fluctuation, which increases risk in long term contractual work. Third, soy inks dry more slowly than petroleum inks and may rub off more easily as well.

As in most things, experience yields better results. If you want to consider printing with soy-based inks, choose a printing partner with the experience to navigate the potential landmines. Despite challenges, soy ink sales remain healthy. Printers should not consider soy inks as a cure all for problems caused by petro-based oils. Instead, they should view soy ink as alternative that can produce a great printed product and lighten our collective eco-footprint.

The Delta Printing Solutions Advantage
Delta Printing Solutions is proud to offer environmentally-responsible solutions to our customers. With a complete range of state-of-the-art prepress, printing and binding services in-house, we strive to deliver you the ultimate customer experience for your book applications. To discuss a specific project or learn more about our commitment to "green" printing, contact us today.

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