Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. Fueled by consumer demand, greater awareness of our impact on the environment, and an honest desire to do what’s right, many companies are reviewing and improving their processes and supply chains to become more earth friendly. At Dion Label Printing, we understand the importance of reducing the negative impact of business operations on the environment and are continually striving for ways to become more sustainable. On top of the post-consumer waste and certified sustainable materials we offer to our partners to help them achieve their sustainability goals, we are always on the lookout for new and better options for our internal processes. That’s why we were so excited when HP announced that their inks are now fully compostable!

A large portion of our print work is completed digitally. There are some awesome benefits to digitally printed labels, as we discuss more in depth here. But one of our favorite things about digital print is that our partner, HP, constantly strives to provide us with more efficient and sustainable options that we can then share with our customers.

In June of this year, HP Inc. announced HP Indigo digital printing inks are now certified for compostability in home and industrial. This is the latest of their sustainability achievements. “ TUV Austria awarded the “OK Compost Home” and “OK Compost Industrial” marks to HP, verifying HP Indigo ElectroInks can be used as printing inks for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation in accordance with leading standards, such as EU regulation EN 13432” according to HP’s press release. Our digital printing options already allowed for the minimizing of waste because we can print in smaller quantities than flexographic printing, as well as the elimination of plates required for flexo. With compostable inks added to the mix, digital printing is becoming a driving force in sustainability for label printing.

While the impetus towards sustainability is causing upheaval across many industries as brands creatively look for new ways to transition from long-used methods, in the print world, finding sustainable inks has been an issue. While more sustainable material options have been available for some time, the ink options for printing them have remained traditional, i.e. not great for the environment and recycling systems. HP ’s new certification for compostable inks is really a game changer in the print world, and we’re so excited to be able to now offer these inks to our customers.

“According to Grandview Market Research, the “green packaging” market is poised to reach $237.8 billion by 2024,   registering 5.7% CAGR [Compound Annual Growth Rate] during the forecast period.” With the increasing demand for more sustainable packaging options, Dion will continue to strive to give our partners the best and most eco-friendly options available. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about our internal sustainability solutions and goals or to hear about how we can help you become more sustainable!