Siegwerk secures European patent for deinking primer aiding plastic recycling

Siegwerk has been granted a new European patent (EP4107326) covering a deinking primer that lets printing inks not removable under commercial conditions be released from plastic substrates during alkaline washing. The technology covers solvent-based and water-based primers and applies to complex flexible packaging, labels and shrink sleeves. The company cites PPWR minimum post-consumer recycled content from 2030, with CEFLEX estimating about 2.5 million tonnes of flexible-packaging-derived recyclate needed by 2030.

Key facts

Market context

Printing inks and primers are applied to plastic packaging to carry branding, barcodes and regulatory information, but ink residues can contaminate recycled plastic and lower its quality. Deinking technologies aim to release these inks during washing so that recovered polymer can be reused in food-contact and other demanding applications. Flexible packaging, labels and shrink sleeves are among the hardest streams to recycle because they combine several polymer layers with multiple ink systems. Demand for high-quality post-consumer recycled plastic is driven largely by consumer goods brand owners, packaging converters and recyclers that must meet recycled-content targets. Regulatory frameworks in Europe are tightening those targets, which tends to increase competition for clean recyclate and raise its value relative to virgin resin. Ink and primer suppliers that can document reliable removal performance may gain influence with converters and recyclers, while recyclers with cleaner feedstock can command better pricing.

Source: official release on siegwerk.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.