Toyo Ink Europe Unveils Low-Migration UV Inks for Food Packaging Compliance

Toyo Ink Europe, part of Japan’s Artience Group, has launched a new range of UV curable inks specifically designed for food-safe packaging. These inks are compliant with the German Printing Ink Ordinance (GIO) and aim to exceed existing safety standards in Europe.

Caroline Melis, sales and marketing manager at Toyo Ink Europe, emphasized the importance of adhering to stringent safety and sustainability regulations in food packaging. The company recognizes the complexities of compliance across various EU regulations and the necessity for controlled raw material selection to manage migration risks effectively.

The newly developed GIO-compliant inks integrate quality and productivity, featuring low-migration chemistry and low-energy UV/LED curing. This combination ensures strong color consistency, excellent adhesion to flexible substrates, and minimal odor, which are crucial for food packaging applications.

Melis noted that these low-migration inks are essential for sensitive food products, including dairy, snacks, and frozen foods, where the risk of substance transfer from packaging to food must be minimized.

In flexo printing, the Steraflex UV technology offers high color strength and compatibility with various substrates, while the Steraflex GIO LED enhances energy efficiency in curing processes. For offset printing, Steraboard UV and Steraplast UV are applicable to both absorbent and non-absorbent materials.

The push for sustainability in the printing industry is evident, with low-energy UV and LED curing technologies reducing power consumption and improving operational efficiency. Melis concluded that the integration of low-migration chemistry with regulatory compliance and energy-efficient curing is vital for ensuring consumer safety and enhancing production efficiency in the food packaging sector.