Packaging company SÜDPACK and industrial printing packaging business LEIBINGER have announced a collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable packaging solutions. 

The partnership initially focuses on testing the compatibility of continuous inkjet (CIJ) inks on recyclable films. 

The project aims to provide food manufacturers with a reliable packaging and printing solution that meets essential customer requirements and supports a circular economy. 

The joint venture (JV), which originated at a meeting during the PACK EXPO trade fair in Chicago, US, in 2022, is testing single-material solutions based on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) with advanced CIJ ink.  

The print samples underwent steam sterilisation at 121°C for 30 minutes, and the results showed that the print remained ‘perfectly’ legible post-sterilisation. 

LEIBINGER Group SIS Ink Solution ink expert and managing director Thomas Paul said: "The sterilisation resistance of ink is always a major challenge. I am delighted that we have succeeded in developing a food-approved CIJ ink that is this effective when printing on monomaterials." 

The inks utilised in the project are suitable for printing on materials that come into contact with food, containing only raw materials approved in compliance with the German Printing Inks Ordinance and the Swiss Commodities Ordinance.  

This ensures that the inks are harmless and prevents any potential migration of ink components to the food. 

With the EU Packaging Regulation mandating that all packaging in the EU market be recyclable by 2030, the shift from composite materials to monomaterials is accelerating.  

In a separate development, SÜDPACK said that it secured the Fairness First seal from the German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalization.

The seal is awarded to recognise the company’s responsible behaviour and transparency in communication with its employees, business partners, and customers.