Our Company’s Policy
Due to responsible industrial practices the overall environmental impact of printing inks in terms of raw materials used and printed substrates are extremely low. However, Sun Chemical will continue to monitor the environmental needs of the industry. The growth of water-based printing inks and coatings continues at a high pace, as is the use of energy curing inks. Sun Chemical uses, where possible raw materials in its mainline products which are derived from renewable materials. For instance, vegetable oils are used in newspaper and Heatset inks. In summary, we are not just concerned about the environment, we are totally involved in doing something about it. Sun Chemical recently won the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) environment award. To achieve this Sun Chemical demonstrated effective environmental management systems to the panel of judges.

Sun Chemical Europe has launched a safety and environmental programme throughout its European operations called SunCare. This programme promotes the safety and health of our employees and users of our products and the protection of the environment. Our achievements in these areas are fundamental to the continuing success of our business and in furthering the success of our customers and suppliers. Sun Chemical and its employees are committed to the success of the SunCare Programme and will strive to assure its goals are achieved.

Regulations
Manufacturing and Sales of printing Inks require a number of regulations to be followed. Standards and Regulations which are applied to Metal-Deco Inks
As printing inks are chemical preparations the same general laws and regulations which are valid for chemical substances have to be applied.

Important are:
• Dangerous Substance Directive 67/548/EEC, TSCA (USA), FDA, CFR (USA)
• Dangerous Preparations Directive 88/379/EEC, 1999/45/EC,
• Safety Data Sheet 91/155/EEC
• Restrictions 76/69/EEC (Prohibited substances).
• Transport Regulations (ADR, RID, IMDG, IATA)

For printing inks which are intended to use for packaging many additional regulations have to be applied furthermore.

These regulations cover, consumer protection, environment, forbidden substances, special country ordinances, quality assurance, purity, waste and regulations which are given by associations and workers unions.

Regulations which are often applied from these categories are:

CEPE - Exclusion List for printing inks and related products.

A list of hazardous or banned substances which are never used in Printing inks. This list is a recommendation of the European Council of Paint, Printing ink and Artists' Colours Industry.

EN 71 Part 3 (88/378/EEC) Toy Regulation.
In this regulation purity criteria's and the limit values of heavy metals are set which could migrate from toys (including the packaging of them).

ASTM F 963-96 (USA Toy Regulation).
Corresponds to EN 71-3

LMBG Recommendation IX (BgVV)
Food and Consumer Goods Law. For printing inks the paragraphs 30, 31 with prohibitions and purity requirements are important. In the recommendation IX heavy metal limit values are given.

EN 94/62EEC Waste Directive
A directive which forbids the use of some heavy metals for the production of packaging and sets limit values for their trace concentrations.

CONEG Waste Regulation
Identical with EN 94/62EEC

90/128/EEC Plastic Directive, AP(89)1 Colorants
Purity criteria's for colorants that are used for colouring food packaging made of plastics. This applies more for mass colouring of plastic than of outside printing of plastic packaging.

Positive Lists (French Positive List)
Purity requirements for colorants for coloration of plastics for food contact. List (Positive List) of colorants which are allowed to use for tis purpose. Although often required it does not apply for the outside printing of packaging.

FDA Approval
Although customers very often asked for this compliance FDA does not apply for printing inks. An FDA approval for printing inks can not be given.

DIN (CEI) and ISO Standards
Standards for testing ink properties and giving quality standards e.g.
DIN 16524, 16525, 16526, CEI-59 02-59 for Light-, Solvent-, Alkali fastness

Prohibitions
E.g. Environmentally hazardous substances such as PCB, PCP, PCT, FCKW, DIOXIN