FOOD-SAFE PRINTING ON BIO-BASED PLASTIC BOTTLES

Eurobottle – a Dutch producer of sports and drinking bottles – is a pioneer in the field of bio-based plastics. In collaboration with the German ink manufacturer Marabu, the company has now reached an important milestone on the road to a circular future for the packaging industry. Eurobottle has introduced a food-safe printing on bio-based plastic bottles. This has been made possible through targeted innovation. It strikes the right balance between performance and sustainability. In addition, using a low-migration printing ink can adhere to new, demanding types of substrate.

The packaging industry is under pressure to change due to increasingly stringent regulations and greater consumer awareness of sustainable solutions. Attractive food packaging is essential for presenting a product well and encouraging consumers to buy it. At the same time, packaging must protect the contents from contaminants and be as sustainable as possible. For sports and drinking-bottle manufacturer Eurobottle, its products must not be made from conventional plastic derived from fossil sources. The company uses bio-based plastic – made from sugar cane – to make its sustainable drinking bottles, which absorb CO₂ and can be recycled. 

Peter Westveer, Commercial Director at Eurobottle, explains, “Sugarcane absorbs a lot of CO₂ as it grows, so bio-based plastic actually has negative CO₂ emissions. We make all our bottles from this plastic.” 

However, printing on this innovative plastic posed a major hurdle for a long time. To ensure food safety and, ultimately, human health, manufacturers and brands must adhere to extremely strict legal requirements regarding materials. Conventional printing inks carry the risk of their ingredients migrating through the plastic and compromising food safety. Eurobottle was therefore looking for a more universal solution that would ensure strong adhesion to bio-based drinking bottles while maintaining food safety.

“One of the biggest challenges is balancing performance with sustainability”

Eurobottle consultated with the ink manufacturer, Marabu, and the printing company, Bewel. Eurobottle finally selected Ultra Pack UVFP. It is a UV screen-printing ink with proven low-migration properties. Ultra Pack UVFP adheres well to even the most challenging of substrates, including bio-based plastics. It also meets strict food-safety standards, which was an important requirement for Eurobottle. Thanks to its durability and resistance, the ink is ideal for frequently reused and cleaned products. As it is manufactured without the use of bisphenol A (BPA), it also complies with the European BPA directive. The directive came into force at the beginning of the year and prohibits the use of BPA in materials that come into contact with food.

Bob Herbold, General Manager of Marabu Nederland BV, explains, “One of the biggest challenges is balancing performance with sustainability.” He continues, “Printing companies are under pressure to deliver high-quality, durable prints while ensuring that the materials and inks they use are safe and comply with evolving regulations.” He concludes, “Adhesion on new, more sustainable substrates is another technical hurdle we often face.”

Thanks to Marabu’s low-migration, BPA-free Ultra Pack UVFP, Eurobottle was able to finish its bottles without compromising on sustainability or safety. Westveer confirms, “Ultimately, Marabu’s ink provided the best solution, meeting all our requirements. Food safety is optimally guaranteed in combination with our bottles.” 

Eurobottle’s drinking bottles are printed, assembled and shipped by the Bewel printing company. This work is carried out by people distanced from the labour market, thus Bewel makes a valuable social contribution. Westveer says, “We believe that we must go beyond sustainability, which is why we have made it our mission to ensure that our printed bottles are fully recyclable at the end of their life.” 

In the case of Eurobottle, printed bottles are collected and processed into new non-food packaging and materials. This is made possible by a partnership with ClubHub in the Netherlands. ClubHub ensures that the material remains in the loop and does not end up as waste. All in all, Eurobottle’s bio-based plastic drinking bottles are a successful example of the future of the packaging industry. They demonstrate how targeted innovation and co-operation can lead to the development of durable, sustainable and safe products that ultimately benefit manufacturers, consumers and the environment.

The Ultra Pack LEDT is another ink that has been specially developed for printing on PE/PP tubes for use in packaging and container printing. Marabu will be presenting this product at the K trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. The event takes place from 8–15 October later this year. Marabu will be in Hall 4, Stand C63-1. 

The ink does not contain BPA or TPO and, thanks to its carefully selected raw materials, offers maximum safety and complies with all legal regulations. This ink’s formulation is silicone-free, highly flexible and fast-curing. This, combined with the energy efficiency of UV-LED curing, make it ideal for direct printing on tubes. As a result, it does not drip through the mesh when the machine stops during production.

“Eurobottle finally selected Ultra Pack UVFP”

The Marabu Group is a leading ink manufacturer for screen printing, pad printing, digital printing and creative colours with over 500 employees. As an innovative and forward-thinking partner for over 165 years, Marabu helps its customers gain a competitive advantage by combining market-driven solutions with economic benefits. The company has a strong international market presence, with 16 subsidiaries and more than 80 distributors based on the principle of local service and global expertise. Marabu stands for innovation, quality ‘Made in Germany’, safety and sustainability. These values form the basis of its proposition to customers. They underpin the business’s first-class support and are embedded in all of the company’s internal and external processes.

Peter Westveer is Commercial Director of Eurobottle BV

Bob Herbold is General Manager of Marabu Nederland BV