AIPIMA Conference: Ink makers deliberate sustainability

Sustainability was all the rage at the 13th International Conference organised by the All India Printing Inks Manufacturers Association (AIPIMA). The event was conducted at The Westin Mumbai Garden City.

The ink industry’s place in the race for sustainability
The chief guest, SN Venkataraman, the SBU Chief of the ITC Printing & Packaging Business, delivered an address talking about what the ink industry can do to bolster the overall effort for sustainability.

He said, “In a layer of multi-layer packaging, ink has always been the creamy layer. The substrate people didn’t matter much beyond a point. People could offer the same substrate. But the ink people could always come out with some new developments and far exceeding whatever the substrate or the artwork people could do. Any artwork had to be translated into reality through inks. So, you can say there is a bit of envy as to what has been happening in the inks and coating business for so long.”

Some of the things Venkataraman highlighted were the need for the development of a new ecosystem to move from single-use plastics to paper-based packaging; and how a company can only be truly circular when mono-materials are collected and processed separately.

In his address, he also highlighted the need for developments in making paper-based packaging suitable for food contact; cost cutting with an extended colour gamut; low migration, low water; shifting from UV to LED curing; polylucanide and metallised silver; reducing the number of solvents in terms of complexity and recovery; and the role ink companies can play in recycling better.

Developments in the ink industry
In his address as the guest of honour, Bhaskar Bhat, the former managing director of the Titan Company, showcased the sustainability efforts of the Tata Group — setting an example for the packaging industry.

He shared their ambitious goals: achieving a 25% reduction in absolute carbon emissions and striving for net zero by 2045, along with pioneering circular economies by 2025. Bhat said, “Start a business with no domain expertise so that you can redefine it in your way.”

Chakarvarthi AVPS, managing director of Ecobliss India, and global ambassador for the World Packaging Organisation discussed the rise of virtual packaging colour labs which offer opportunities, providing extensive virtual colour palettes. Studies reveal that 85% of purchase decisions are influenced by colour, thereby emphasising its impact.

Emerging technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality are driving innovation in colour design and packaging, resulting in the transformation of consumer experiences. Chakarvarthi's mantra for the delegates was, “Colour is king, and packaging is the future.”

What ink companies are up to
Other speakers took the stage to highlight their efforts, too. Christian Biecker, global key account manager within the printing inks and inkjet market at BYK, spoke about his company's sustainability efforts, addressing the challenges and solutions to the problem today.

Jill Johnson of the Fujifilm Imaging Corporation spoke in the context of RxD about aqueous pigment dispersion technology with exceptional stability for use in high-performance inkjet inks.

Manas Kumar Sarkar, business HR head and sustainability officer for UFlex’s flexible packaging business, highlighted the way forward for sustainable packaging, emphasising the company's active role in the ecosystem. He discussed UFlex's long-standing commitment to sustainability, noting that the company began recycling at its plants as early as 1995. 

Sarkar underscored the importance of recycling initiatives, including the 100% mechanical recycling of multilayer packaging, and shared how UFlex is creating wealth from waste by recycling post-consumer PET bottles.

David Robins, regional marketing manager of the flexo ink business at the DIC Asia Pacific Region, shared insights on transforming the future of printing and packaging. He highlighted the company's advancements in developing all-natural inks, including solvent- and water-based options made entirely from plant-based or natural materials. Additionally, he emphasised the push towards mono-material packaging solutions using BOPE and LLDPE.

Kim Dixon, regulatory affairs manager at Nobel NC, shared the company’s sustainability data, highlighting the safety advantages of dense nitrocellulose. He discussed essential handling guidelines and strategies for minimising associated risks, emphasising Nobel NC's commitment to safety and sustainability.

Inderjit Singh, business unit head for offset and flexo at Toyo India, emphasised the importance of sustainable development in printing inks. He stressed the role of packaging and raw materials in driving innovation, pointing to the identification of new biomass-based products to reduce toxicity in end products. 

Nandini Chowdhury of Hubergroup highlighted the importance of safe inks for ensuring safe packaging. She discussed innovations such as direct food contact inks and the NewV pack MGA inks, detailing their applications and benefits in creating packaging solutions.

The nebulous definitions of sustainability
A panel discussion closed the conference. Moderated by Ramu Ramanathan, editor at PrintWeek and WhatPackaging?, the session featured insights from Andrew Huang, deputy manager for speciality materials at Eternal Materials; Prashant Atre, managing director at Toyo Ink Arets India; Manas Kumar Sarkar of UFlex; and Christian Biecker of BYK.

Ramanathan opened the discussion by comparing sustainability to the Indian parable of the elephant, where different stakeholders perceive it in various ways. He noted the fragmented understanding of sustainability in the print and packaging sectors, calling for unified definitions to drive cohesive action.  

Sarkar emphasised the role of India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework in addressing this confusion. “EPR provides clear definitions and actionable targets, making it a robust model for driving alignment across stakeholders,” he said.  

Biecker highlighted the need for measurable sustainability metrics, saying, “A system where additives and materials are rated on sustainability could simplify decision-making and encourage greener practices. Numbers offer clarity, especially for scientifically grounded companies like ours.”  

Huang provided a global perspective, stating, “Sustainability isn’t just a slogan at Eternal; it’s a core principle. We’re committed to achieving our benchmarks for 2030 and 2050, focusing on measurable impacts like water reuse and resource optimisation.”  

Atre linked sustainability to leadership, remarking, “Responsible leadership means being responsive to societal and environmental needs. This is about reducing waste and ensuring a better future for the next generation.”

The discussion also touched upon the economic challenges of sustainability, the inefficacy of waste collection systems in India, how collaboration and education can help the sustainability effort, rethinking packaging design to synergise sustainability, and what the journey ahead might look like.