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Bordeaux Inc. - 2/27/2009
Protecting the Environment
Making inks “greener” is a primary focus of Bordeaux. It is all about reducing VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
containing Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP’s) levels in inks products.
In the digital inkjet world; “solvent” is used to describe any ink that is not water-based. These inks use aggressive
solvents with poor health and environmental profiles. They contain HAPs, TAPs (Toxic Air Pollutants), VOCs and
have low PEL’s (Personal Exposure Limit) as set by OSHA, a limit to protect the health of printer operators.
What qualifications determine whether an ink is defined as "green"?
There are a few common solutions in the market:
Mild/Light Solvent Inks: These inks are similar to traditional solvent inks, but with less aggressive solvents.
However, these inks still require ventilation in the area where printing is done. Bordeaux produces a variety of
these inks for Mimaki printers using our Mix & Match technology.
Eco-Solvent: These inks are less aggressive than Mild/Light/ Solvent-based inks. The inks are very low odor,
and do not require active ventilation. However, there should be adequate air exchanges in the area around the
printer. Bordeaux has been very successful with our Mix & Match inks in the Roland printers and they also are
now being used in Mutoh printers.
Ultraviolet (UV) Curable Inks: These inks have no VOCs, along with low PELs but direct exposure to them before
printing (inks are cured with UV light making them inert) should be avoided. Bordeaux produces a new versatile
UV ink that can be used for both roll-fed and flatbed UV printers .
Aqueous or Water-based Inks: Generally are regarded as “green”. But almost all contain glycols, which are
rated as toxic substances. These inks are limited in use for graphics applications because of slower drying.
They also tend to be less durable and less weather-resistant. Bordeaux produces a line of water-based inks
mostly sold outside the North American market.
Please share the green inks available from your company. What makes them green?
At Bordeaux we refer to ourselves as “The Green Ink Experts”. The reason for this is based on our “Green Focus”
which is:
1) Continuing program of improving our mainstream ink families to make them “greener”. Our efforts go toward
the “greening” or use of more environmentally oriented solvent systems having lower VOC’s, HAP’s and higher
(more favorable) PEL’s in all our current products.
2) Development of a unique family of “Green inks” based on the use of non-hazardous, non-polluting and
non-HAP solvent system. “Prime Green” ink, “PgNr”, is the initial release designed for the Mimaki JV5.
3) Our “Green inks” and our other Eco oriented solvent-based inks are produced without sacrificing any of the
qualities needed to make them the best ink value in the industry. In other words, the achievement of “Green
Quality” is made without sacrificing fast drying, low odor, superior color gamut, media versatility, excellent
adhesion, and outdoor durability.
4) Low Cost is still maintained! “Green inks” are not made with expensive or experimental products, but with
an available organic derivative that Bordeaux’s skilled R&D team spent countless hours to formulate into a high
quality and high stability ink.
We are continually scanning the industry and reviewing the offerings of the OEM’s and alternative ink
manufacturers to maintain a state-of the art focus on being the leaders in the development of state-of –the art
“Green inks”.
www.c-m-y-k.com
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