GERMANY – SÜDPACK, a leader in packaging solutions, has partnered with industrial printing specialist LEIBINGER to address the rising demand for sustainable packaging.

Their first joint venture focuses on testing the effectiveness of continuous inkjet (CIJ) inks on recyclable films, specifically for food packaging that undergoes sterilization after sealing.

This combined approach saves food manufacturers time and ensures a secure investment in sustainable packaging technology.

Today’s packaging must be resource-efficient and recyclable, aligning with the EU Packaging Regulation, which mandates that all packaging within the EU be recyclable by 2030.

This shift is driving manufacturers to replace traditional composite materials with monomaterials.

However, monomaterials lacking a barrier function require harmless inks to prevent food contamination, raising the bar for the production, coding, and marking of packaging films.

In response to these evolving demands, SÜDPACK is expanding its range of recyclable film solutions.

The company is developing monomaterials that match the functionality of traditional composites in terms of convenience and food protection.

To meet the needs of printing on these new materials, LEIBINGER has developed advanced CIJ inks in collaboration with SIS Ink Solution, a subsidiary of the LEIBINGER Group.

The joint project between SÜDPACK and LEIBINGER focuses on optimizing the interaction between packaging films and industrial printing technologies.

One of the key challenges for the collaboration was testing whether CIJ inks could withstand the sterilization process.

At SÜDPACK’s technical center, specialists printed recyclable single-material films made from PE and PP using the newly developed CIJ ink.

The films were then subjected to steam sterilization at 121°C for 30 minutes. Afterward, the prints remained clear and legible, demonstrating that the ink meets the stringent requirements for food contact materials under both the German Printing Inks Ordinance and the Swiss Commodities Ordinance.

The collaboration between SÜDPACK and LEIBINGER began at the PackExpo trade show in Chicago in 2022, where both companies saw the potential for a joint project.

Their shared goal was to create a packaging and printing solution that meets key customer needs while advancing sustainability in the food industry.

“The sterilization resistance of ink is always a major challenge. I am delighted that we have succeeded in developing a food-approved CIJ ink that performs so well on monomaterials,” concluded Dr. Thomas Paul, Managing Director at SIS Ink Solution.

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