The 3Rs

FUJIFILM Sericol U.S.A., Inc. has implemented programs to promote awareness and encouraged input from employees on ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. These efforts have led to the following initiatives and achievements.

• Recycling of virtually all paper, plastic, and metal.
• Analyzed all waste streams and initiated projects to reduce waste.
• Reclaim and reuse most solvents rather than incinerate.
• All plastic product containers are designated Code 2 / Code 5 recyclable, and contain 25% Post consumer resin (recycled material).
• Installed motion sensitive lights in most office environments and installed high efficiency lighting in operations to reduce electricity use.
• Reduced fuel usage in transporting product to customers by using Vendor Managed Inventory systems.
• Increased fleet m.p.g. requirement by 30% to reduce fuel consumption

FUJIFILM Sericol manufactures a wide range of products for the printing industry using a variety of chemistry including UV curable technology and evaporative solvent technology. In order to become more environmentally focused, FUJIFILM Sericol has over many years worked hard to develop and refine its UV curable product offer. However, for various reasons, we still manufacture some solvent technologies.

When considering the 3Rs and solvent chemistry, the following standards have been applied to existing and new formulation developments within our laboratories;

• Reduced VOC solvents wherever possible
• Reduction of solvents that have a HAP’s rating
• Utilizing solvents generated from renewable sources if practical
• Utilization of solvents from recycled or waste stream sources if possible
• Reduction in use of binders and resins based on PVC or phthalate chemistry
• Reduction or elimination of materials that contain or emit formaldehyde

Typically, when considering UV curable technology, the environmental impact of the ink is far reduced compared to solvent inks. In many cases, water-based technology also contains solvents and has high VOC levels and other undesirable components such as ammonia or ammonia derivatives.

• UV curable technology has the following benefits from an environmental perspective;
• Zero or near zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Zero Harardous Air pollutants (HAPs)
• Fully cured the ink film has no component that can be leached out.
• Recycling of UV coatings can be achieved as though the ink was a part of the print substrate.
• Easier to recycle UV inks from paper and paper synthetics in traditional paper recycling processes as unlike water based inks it does not dissolve in water.
• FUJIFILM Sericol has reduced or eliminated photo initiators that can migrate out of the ink film after cure.