Initiative Launched to Drive Shift to More Sustainable, MEK-Free Product Coding
The company is planting one tree in Peru for each case purchased, initially for a total of 3,000 trees. This will help restore biodiversity and improve conditions for local communities there, while helping to fight global warming, thanks to the CO2 stored in the wood.
There are many environmental consequences to packaging. Printing codes, such as expiry dates and lot numbers, onto products is no exception. The world’s most common coding method is continuous inkjet (CIJ). Most inks used are MEK-based and release VOCs, precursors to greenhouse gases. As part of a wider sustainability program, Markem-Imaje seeks to shift CIJ coding towards MEK-free inks which can halve these VOCs. Contributing to Reforest’Action efforts by planting 3,000 trees in Peru, one for every case purchased of its EB588 and FB655 inks, is the company’s latest step.