Flint Group Packaging Inks, a leading supplier of ink and coatings to the global packaging industry, has announced its ZenCode CG and ZenCode CS ink series have been assessed against the requirements of the Material Health category of the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard, achieving a Gold level and Silver level respectively. The company’s ZenCode portolio is part of its recently announced ONECode solvent-based inks and coatings range.

ZenCode solvent-based inks are designed with the environment in mind and to promote the developing circular economy in flexible packaging. Specific coloured inks, whites and a range of 1-component and 2-component overprint varnishes are available for both flexographic and rotogravure printing – including expanded colour gamut printing – and incorporate a certified range of chemistries.

ZenCode can be used for printing on the non-food contact side of food packaging materials and is suitable for surface, reverse, and lamination printing. These inks are designed for a wide range of flexible packaging requirements including high-end lamination, retort, shrink sleeves, collation shrink and reverse printing.

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit organisation created to bring about a large-scale transformation in the way items are manufactured. Its mission is to provide a continuous improvement quality standard to guide product manufacturers and designers in making safe and healthy products, of all types, for the world.

Thomas Strohe, Senior Director Product Strategy & Segmentation for Flint Group Packaging Inks in Europe, said: “We were delighted with the outcome of the ZenCode assessment. It reflects our commitment as an organisation to continuous improvement in product design and development. We are continuing to have a number of our products assessed to ensure we are meeting our sustainability vision of supporting packaging markets with responsibility built products and sustainable solutions designed for circular economies.”

The Cradle to Cradle Certified Material Health Assessment methodology is a contextual assessment based on chemical hazard identification and qualitative exposure considerations during a product’s final manufacture, use and end-of-life.

The assessment concluded that all materials used in the ZenCode range were either optimal or acceptable for use as defined by the Cradle to Cradle Innovation Institute and do not contain any highly problematic materials. The product’s assessed materials are therefore confirmed to not contain chemicals on the Banned Lists of Chemicals above permitted thresholds nor contain carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxicants. The range also meets volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions testing requirements, as described in the Standard.

Not only are ZenCode products Cradle to Cradle Material Health certified, these inks have also been approved for composting by OK Compost in Europe and have been certified for the CADEL DEINKING process in Europe.

For more information on the new Flint Group Packaging Inks’ ONECode portfolio of solvent-based inks or for a copy of the Cradle to Cradle Material Heath Certificate, please visit www.flintgrp.com or email [email protected].