In hang tag printing, some factories and brands use environmentally friendly ink, while some factories and brands use traditional ink. The main differences between them are reflected in the following aspects:
1. Ingredients and solvents
Traditional inks: usually contain organic solvents such as mineral oil and aromatic hydrocarbons. These solvents will evaporate during the printing process, releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which will cause harm to the environment and human health.
Environmentally friendly inks: mainly use water, alcohols or vegetable oils (such as soybean oil) as solvents, which significantly reduces the emission of VOCs. For example, water-based inks use water as a carrier and contain almost no volatile organic compounds.
2. Drying and curing methods
Traditional inks: The drying speed is relatively slow, and usually relies on solvent volatilization to form an ink film, which is greatly affected by environmental humidity, temperature and other factors.
Environmentally friendly inks: such as UV inks, which are instantly cured by ultraviolet irradiation, have fast drying speed and high production efficiency.
3. Environmental performance
Traditional inks: harmful gases are released during production and use, which have a negative impact on the environment and human health.
Environmentally friendly ink: It has the characteristics of low VOCs emission, non-toxic and harmless, and recyclable, which is environmentally friendly. For example, plant-based ink is not only environmentally friendly, but also promotes agricultural development.
4. Printing effect
Traditional ink: The color vividness and glossiness may vary depending on the type of ink and printing process, and may fade or discolor after long-term storage or exposure to specific environments.
Environmentally friendly ink: Such as UV ink, the color stability is good, not easy to fade or turn yellow, the surface is flat and smooth after printing, and the pattern is bright and clear.
5. Application field
Traditional ink: It is widely used in various printing fields, but its environmental protection limits its application in packaging printing such as food and medicine that requires strict hygiene conditions.
Environmentally friendly ink: It is particularly suitable for packaging printing of food, beverages, medicines, etc., and is recognized as an environmentally friendly printing material in the world.
6. Cost and economy
Traditional ink: The cost is relatively low, but in the long run, its negative impact on the environment and human health may lead to higher social costs.
Environmentally friendly ink: Although the initial cost may be high, its cost is gradually decreasing with the development of technology and the popularization of applications.
In summary, environmentally friendly inks have significant advantages in reducing environmental pollution, protecting human health, and improving printing quality, and are the future development direction of the printing industry. In current printing work, traditional inks still dominate the mainstream due to cost factors. However, there is no need to worry too much. As long as it is a regular printing factory, the traditional inks they use still meet environmental protection requirements, because each country has clear and strict standards for the chemical composition of inks.
FAQ
Traditional inks used in hang tag printing are typically petroleum-based and often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals (such as lead or mercury), and chemical solvents. In contrast, environmentally friendly inks are formulated with renewable resources—such as water, soybean oil, or other plant-based oils (like linseed or corn)—to significantly reduce or eliminate toxic emissions and hazardous substances.
No, modern eco-friendly inks are designed to meet or even exceed the performance of traditional inks. For instance, soy-based inks are known for providing vibrant colors and high levels of clarity, while UV-curable eco-inks offer excellent resistance to scratching and fading. This allows brands to maintain high-quality aesthetics and durability for their hang tags while still meeting their sustainability goals.