Eco-Dec
Hazardous Waste Recycling
in the Flexo Printing Industry
The printing industry, and particularly the flexo printing sector, plays an essential role in packaging, labelling and publishing.
This technique is widely used due to its ability to print on a wide range of substrates and relies heavily on solvent-based inks. While these solvents are key to achieving fast, high-quality print results, their use generates hazardous waste, posing both environmental and financial challenges. That’s why hazardous waste recycling in the flexo printing industry has become a critical focus, as improper handling can pose serious risks to both the environment and operational efficiency.
The Role of Solvents in Flexo Printing
Solvents are involved at several key stages of the flexo printing process:
- Ink formulation: Flexographic inks are typically formulated with solvents — such as ethanol, isopropanol and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — to ensure fast drying and strong adhesion to non-porous surfaces. Ethanol-based solutions are especially valued for their lower toxicity compared to some alternatives, making them a popular choice in sustainable ink systems.
- Equipment cleaning: Ink pans, anilox rollers and printing plates must be cleaned regularly to prevent contamination and maintain print quality. These components must be regularly cleaned with strong solvents — often including ethanol in varying concentrations — generating large volumes of hazardous liquid waste. In most cases, this waste is collected and sent off-site for destruction or external treatment, a process that is both costly and environmentally damaging.
Hazardous Waste Challenges in Flexo Printing
While essential, solvents create a number of challenges for flexo printing professionals:
- Environmental impact: Improper management of used solvents can lead to soil and groundwater contamination, with significant ecological consequences. In addition, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they contain contribute to air pollution, further deteriorating air quality. Moreover, when solvents are incinerated rather than recycled, this process generates considerable CO2 emissions, adding to the carbon footprint and contributing to climate change.
- Financial burden: The repeated use of fresh solvents, combined with the costs of collecting, transporting, and treating hazardous waste, generates substantial operational expenses. Over time, these costs weigh heavily on the profitability of printing facilities.
The Benefits of eco-dec Solvent Regenerators
We offer on-site solvent recycling solutions specifically designed for the flexo printing industry. With eco-dec regenerators, used solvents are regenerated directly on your site, helping you reduce costs and limit your environmental impact.
- Customized integration: Solutions tailored to both small and large-scale operations, easily connected to your existing cleaning systems.
- Hazardous waste reduction: Recycle up to 90% of the solvent used, drastically reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated.
- Lower operational costs: Reduce the need to purchase new solvents and significantly cut disposal expenses.
- Environmental compliance: Our ATEX-certified systems meet the highest international safety and environmental standards.
- Flexible installation: Plug-and-play solutions available in sizes from 20L to 500L, with options for manual or automatic management, for recycling from 10L to 3000L per day.
Contact Us
Are you working in flexo printing? Don’t let hazardous waste impact your productivity or increase your environmental footprint.
Contact us to learn how eco-dec can help you recycle your ethanol-based solvents in a way that is efficient, cost-effective and sustainable — directly within your flexo printing process.
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