Flint Group Earns Renewable Certification of Offset Inks

PLYMOUTH, Mich.—Four of Flint Group’s most popular offset ink series earned bio-renewable content (BRC) certification by the ink industry’s only standard. K+E®, Arrowstar™ and Starbase™ sheetfed series, as well as Arroweb™ heatset inks, were certified by the Bio-derived Renewable Content (BRC) Labeling Program run by NAPIM (National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers).

At a time when companies are putting more effort into ‘greening’ their print processes, printers can rely on BRC indices as an objective way to grade the sustainability of the inks.

Flint Group’s certified sheetfed inks received a BRC index of 70, signifying high levels of bio-renewable materials. In fact, the vehicle systems are based on 100 percent naturally renewable raw materials. The certified heatset inks are formulated with various renewable resources, including soy, earning a BRC index of 30. This is a notable rating, as a typical heatset ink rarely surpasses 35 percent bio-renewable content (Reference http://74.0.252.227/PublicArea/BRC/BRCRanges.aspx).

“Printers get the quality and performance of standard offset printing inks in sustainable products,” notes Michael Podd, business director of sheetfed and heatset inks for Flint Group.

“These inks have always been formulated to be robust, versatile, reliable, and ecologically friendly,” underscores Rodney Balmer, technical director for sheetfed inks. “The ink industry was in need of a standard to objectively communicate that to the market, and NAPIM’s BRC program fills that gap.”

Flint Group expects more inks to be certified over time.