December's issue of
Ink World highlights the development of environmentally friendly technologies as a way that ink manufacturers can offset higher raw materials costs and deal with the economic downturn.
Highlights of the article,
Waxes, Solvents and Additives by David Savastano, bring several issues to the forefront:
- Rising raw material and energy costs as well as volatile exchange rates will affect the price of inks.
- There is a shift to waterborne technology.
- Market demand, due to the economic crisis, is expected to soften.
- The green movement is real and is driving demand for eco-friendly, low-/zero-VOC additives.
We shouldn't be surprised to see ink prices going up again; however, we are likely to see new products appearing on the market in response to demand for environmentally friendly solutions.
