INX International Attains EcoLogo Certification for EcoTech

INX International Ink Co. announced that its highly prized EcoTech TC sheetfed inks recently earned successful verification and certification through the environmental standard EcoLogo Program. Certified inks include four EcoTech process colors and 11 blending bases.

EcoLogo is North America’s largest, most respected environmental standard and certification mark. It is exclusively managed by TerraChoice, a global leader in environmental certification and green marketing whose majority owner – ULC Standards – is part of the Underwriters Laboratories global network providing environmental services to companies around the world.

The EcoLogo Program helps public and corporate purchasers as well as consumers find and trust environmentally preferred products across 80 categories. Its logo and certification assures that all environmental claims made by manufacturers are understandable as well as both accurate and reliable. Founded in 1988, EcoLogo awards products that demonstrate environmental leadership within their category. An ISO 14024 Type 1 program, it evaluates products against scientifically rigorous criteria that reflect the entire life cycle of the product.

“This is a significant honor not only for the EcoTech TC blending bases, but also for our Research & Development department and the people behind the products,” said Chris Bonk, INX sheetfed technical director. “When an organization of this stature recognizes and verifies your products, it tells the print industry that we have met or exceeded very demanding guidelines. Our inks required special formulations and manufacturing techniques to achieve these results, but developing eco-friendly and economically feasible products is a part of our tradition that now stretches past 10 years.”

Introduced at Graph Expo 2008, EcoTech process color inks are rich in bio-based, renewable raw materials (above 61%) and very low in VOCs (less than 3%).

Printers using these inks have capitalized on the edge they provide with superior on-press performance, including fast start-ups and a quick return to color on run after run. In addition to dot sharpness and press stability, especially in light coverage situations, printers have experienced excellent fast set and dry times and good gloss and rub resistance.

EcoTech inks conform to ISO 2846-1 standards and are suitable for GRACoL G7 certification. Tests have shown they reduce waste and wash-ups because they can remain in the fountain overnight.