Packaging Solutions: Positive About Print
Flint Group Paper & Board has introduced TerraCode, a sustainable water based ink and coating range for paper and board packaging applications. Designed to support market demands for sustainable packaging, Flint Group presents an innovative bio-renewable product offering that can be tailor made for converters’ individual needs.
Kim Melander, vice president and general manager of Flint Group Packaging Inks EMEA, commented: ‘Flint Group is acutely aware of increasing societal focus toward sustainable packaging. Therefore, we are pleased to present a full range of bio-renewable inks and coatings, for use in paper and board printing, which are designed to address global environmental concerns.
‘Our development teams have gone beyond a one size fits all technology approach to design three product series that more effectively support printers’ and brand owners’ differing print and sustainability requirements. With TerraCode, we are delivering a solution, through ink and coating developments, to unlock certain sustainable package print challenges that paper and board converters and their customers are facing.’
Scott Mosley, vice president of technology, paper and board North America, commented: ‘The TerraCode range has been designed to support a wide variety of paper and board applications, including corrugated post and pre-print, food wraps, folding carton, cups, paper bags, and aseptic packaging. We have effectively developed a bio-renewable ink range suitable for all paper and board applications.’
In addition to supporting printers and their customers meet sustainability objectives, the TerraCode range delivers on the necessary requirements for premium packaging results, such as high print quality, product consistency, and ease of use. The inks and coatings are bio-renewable content (BRC) certified and sustainably sourced. The range is also available as print ready or via a convenient building block package.
Paul Winstanley, senior director technology and innovation EMEA, added: ‘Flint Group understands that not all printers and brand owners have the same sustainability objectives therefore, we are pleased to offer a series of product options to ensure we are meeting all our customers’ needs.’
The TerraCode range includes:
TerraCode Bio – designed with the highest level of bio-renewable content where a typical formulation contains greater than 90% of renewable resources.
TerraCode Hybrid – a combination of renewable and conventional raw materials where a typical formulation contains in excess of 50% renewable resin content.
TerraCode Balance – based on biomass balance technology, a process that maintains the performance of existing synthetic solutions.
Scott Mosley further explained, ‘Our focus on the environment is not limited to materials alone. The TerraCode range has been developed using a combination of natural feed stock options – natural pigments, resins, additives and biomass balance materials – that do not compete with food or facilitate deforestation. For Flint Group, using a sustainable source for these materials is just as important as the renewable content itself. Furthermore, we have extended our strict raw material review policy to include renewable source information.’
Paul Winstanley concluded, ‘Flint Group is extremely excited about the impact our TerraCode ink series will have on our customers’ sustainability objectives. Regardless of which TerraCode product is selected, our sustainable solutions will result in a positive user experience and reduced environmental impact, including a reduction in value-chain CO2 emissions.’
