At Knockout, we are often asked about the sustainability of the materials we use for our secondary packaging. Transparency is important to us and we are happy to supply our clients with the traceability documentation that assures them (and the retailers they supply products to) that our secondary packaging is truly eco-friendly and sustainable.
Recently, Sephora asked a brand we work with to provide documentation for the ink they use on their secondary packaging to ensure compliance with the Sephora Planet Aware program. Learn more about the Planet Aware program here. In short, the program’s criteria states that 100% of the inks used on a brand’s packaging are vegetable, water, or UV-based (non-petroleum derived and no VOCs) and the supplier is long-term committed to EuPIA (European Printing Ink Association) ink requirements. If you haven’t yet heard about EuPIA, we are sure you soon will! Sustainability, health, and safety are key to EuPIA and these standards are now being implemented worldwide. To learn more about them, click here.
It got us thinking that maybe some of you would be interested in learning more about the inks we use as well.
When printing secondary packaging, we use an environmentally friendly printing ink supplier, Huber. They have created MGA® NATURA, organoleptically neutral print inks with low migration. So…what does that mean? First, and foremost, these inks are cobalt and mineral-oil free. They are also alcohol and alkali-resistant, fast setting, have good scratch resistance and low odor. And, best of all, there is 100% batch tracing throughout the entire production chain, right through to the raw materials.
At Knockout, we appreciate that Huber uses resources sparingly while producing environmentally friendly printing inks that support brands and their sustainability measures. To learn more about MGA® NATURA, click here.
As always, if you have any questions about our sustainable secondary packaging or the materials we use, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Frequently asked questions
What ink requirements does Sephora Planet Aware have for packaging?
Under the program's criteria, 100% of the inks on a brand's packaging must be vegetable, water or UV-based, meaning non-petroleum derived with no VOCs. The ink supplier must also be committed long term to the ink requirements of EuPIA, the European Printing Ink Association.
What is EuPIA?
EuPIA is the European Printing Ink Association. Its standards focus on sustainability, health and safety, and they are now being implemented worldwide. Sephora's Planet Aware criteria require that a brand's ink supplier is committed long term to EuPIA ink requirements, so brands selling there need inks that meet them.
What inks does Knockout use on secondary packaging?
Knockout uses inks from Huber, an environmentally friendly printing ink supplier, including MGA NATURA. These are organoleptically neutral, low-migration inks that are cobalt and mineral-oil free, alcohol and alkali resistant, fast setting, scratch resistant and low odour, with 100% batch tracing right through to the raw materials.
Can Knockout provide ink documentation for retailer compliance?
Yes. Knockout supplies clients with traceability documentation for its secondary packaging materials, which assures them and the retailers they sell to that the packaging is eco-friendly. In one case, Sephora asked a brand Knockout works with for ink documentation to confirm compliance with the Planet Aware program.
Sources
- Global Planet Aware Sephora Criteria 2024, Sephora
- MGA NATURA low-migration printing inks, hubergroup
