Blog

Materials company Toray and European flexible packaging group Chemosvit this week showed a sample of a mono-material pouch with barrier properties designed with the circular economy in mind. It illustrates the potential of the partners’ technology, which combines a novel flexible film construction with a waterless electron beam (EB) offset printing process that results in reduced CO₂ emissions compared with conventional techniques.

Offset printing is not as widely used with flexible packaging as gravure and flexographic printing, said Tokyo-based Toray in the announcement. The offset process is advantageous, however, for short and medium runs, as it offers production flexibility — offset plates can be imaged within minutes — and accelerates time to market, said Toray. These advantages have gained prominence as brand owners shift to a broader variety of food products and other consumables in smaller quantities. Toray and Chemosvit believe waterless EB offset printing is the most environmentally sustainable method supporting this trend.

The solvent-free technology, devoid of volatile organic compounds, reduces CO₂ emissions by more than 80% compared with gravure printing, according to Toray. Moreover, offset plates are made of aluminum, which can be recycled. The cumulative result is greatly reduced energy consumption vis à vis other printing techniques, according to the companies.

Toray and Chemosvit currently are fine tuning the new printing technology. Toray has developed a material designed for use with a water-washable ink that is currently under development at major ink manufacturers.