{"id":10531,"date":"2025-11-28T03:55:03","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T08:55:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=10531"},"modified":"2025-11-28T03:55:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T08:55:03","slug":"recyclass-approves-nitrocellulose-free-inks-for-flexible-packaging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=10531","title":{"rendered":"RecyClass approves nitrocellulose-free inks for flexible packaging\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The programme examined four polyurethane (PU)-based ink technologies alongside one acrylic-based solution. Credit: Matveev Aleksandr \/ Shutterstock.com <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Cross-industry European initiative RecyClass has approved a new range of nitrocellulose-free inks for use in surface and reverse printing on flexible plastic packaging.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The approval came after testing confirmed that the inks are compatible with existing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) recycling streams.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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RecyClass evaluates the recyclability and traceability of plastic materials and is recognised by the Circular Plastics Alliance as an official audit framework.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The organisation\u2019s PO Films Technical Committee led a test programme based on the Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for PE films.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The programme examined four polyurethane (PU)-based ink technologies alongside one acrylic-based solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The inks did not negatively affect the quality of recycled pellets or resulting films.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No drop in colour stability was observed, and the trials did not register any increase in volatile emissions during processing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A separate sample using polyvinyl butyral (PVB)-based ink showed comparable performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RecyClass has determined that PU and PVB inks are fully compatible with current PE and PP recycling streams.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The group will now revise its Design for Recycling guidelines to reflect the conclusions from the study.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the same time, the organisation has restated its guidance that ink coverage on packaging should remain below 5% of the total weight in order to minimise potential negative effects on recycling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

GS Caltex recently became<\/a> the first company in Asia to secure RecyClass certification for its end-of-life vehicle plastics recycling value chain.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

By 2025, the system is expected to cover more than 60% of the European plastics recycling sector and is widely referenced as an international benchmark for circular plastics, as reported by The Korea Herald.\u202f<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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