Vegetable based printing ink is a kind of environment friendly ink which is made from vegetable oil. The base liquid or the basic solution of vegetable ink is made from different varieties of vegetable oils. Vegetable inks are considered better inks as they are prepared from a variety of vegetable oils and are not just restricted to one single crop.
Furthermore, the vegetable inks extract the best qualities of plant matter from different plants and are used in manufacture of ink.
Vegetable based inks take a bit long to dry as compared to other petroleum inks. As a result of this, the vegetable based inks drastically reduce the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Vegetable inks account for release of just 2-4% VOCs into the atmosphere which is not harming the environment to the extent of petroleum inks.
Unlike petroleum inks, vegetable inks make use of vegetable oils which makes them a renewable resource. The vegetable based inks mostly contain sustainable materials like vegetable oils and modified resins. They are also formulated with some organic materials which are free from any animal based byproducts.
Vegetable inks are not only emitting less VOCs, but they are also help in reducing the VOCs from the entire printing process. This is due to the fact that solvents are not required for cleaning purpose, as the press can be cleaned by using a water based cleaner. This helps in further reduction of amount of VOCs released in the environment. Vegetable based inks are much easier to de-ink when they are recycled. This ensures that less hazardous waste is generated and thus helps towards a green environment.
There is a myth among the masses that vegetable based inks are degraded inks. This is not at all the case. Vegetable based inks are not degraded inks but in fact they offer many bright, vibrant and appealing colors for the purpose of printing. They do not contain any toxins and carcinogens. Moreover they break down much faster when subjected to recycling.
Vegetable inks are not more expensive than petroleum inks and they also serve towards a cause- Saving the Environment. And with many people understanding the need to save the environment its usage is on a rise and with time one can predict the extinction of petroleum based inks.
