What are the latest advancements in printing ink technology?
Manufacturers and converters today require printing 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.
These are the latest advancements in printing ink technology, driving change to give converters greater flexibility, efficiency, and regulatory confidence:
- Sustainable, next‑generation chemistries developed for new substrates
Ink innovation is evolving to meet new sustainability demands, with formulations shifting toward renewable colourants, bio‑based 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.
- Low‑VOC, water‑based, and renewable-solvent ink systems
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.
Eco‑solvents, 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.
- PFAS‑free and pollutant‑reduced ink formulations
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.
- Design for recyclability and high‑performance de‑inking
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 de‑inking processes. These developments reduce the likelihood of downgraded recyclate, helping converters to deliver products that meet stricter recycling performance expectations.
- 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.
As a developer and manufacturer of inks for our digital printing presses, Domino harnesses sustainable chemistries and advanced curing technologies to drive compatibility with emerging substrates, supporting converters in:
- Reducing VOCs, energy use, odour, and compliance risk
- Printing reliably on the new generation of recyclable and mono-material substrates
- Improving recyclability and de‑inking outcomes for brand owners
- Future‑proofing operations against sustainability-driven regulation