| The introduction of soy ink around a decade back | | | | to the paper fibers. As a result, the recycled |
| has brought a welcome change to the printing | | | | paper is much brighter and fit for use. Besides, |
| industry. As opposed to petroleum-based ink, soy | | | | soy ink waste does not pose any threat to the |
| ink is produced from soybeans and definitely holds | | | | environment and can be easily treated using |
| more advantages than the traditional ink used in | | | | modern methods. |
| the printing industry. Soy ink use in the printing | | | | These advantages of soy ink have made it |
| industry ensures a safe and environment friendly | | | | almost a unanimous choice by the printing |
| step towards printing without significant loss of | | | | industries, especially in the US. In fact, the use of |
| energy. An outcome of the price hike of | | | | soy ink in the US market has registered a |
| petroleum in OPEC countries, soy ink proves to | | | | significant leap from less than 5% in 1989 to |
| be a perfect match for their traditional petroleum | | | | approximately 23% today. Reports suggest Asia |
| ink counterpart. Abundance and low cost are | | | | as one of the biggest markets for soy inks, with |
| possibly the major reasons for the greater | | | | Japanese printing companies purchasing a major |
| acceptability of soy ink by printing industries | | | | share of the American soy ink. Out of 28 Asian |
| across the world. | | | | ink manufacturers producing soy ink, 23 are in |
| Soy ink scores over petroleum-based ink on a | | | | Japan. With a bright scope for development in the |
| number of aspects. To begin with, inks made | | | | Asian market, experts are hopeful of soy ink |
| from petroleum or other vegetable oils are not | | | | capturing a major share of the European print |
| lucid and hence, cannot produce bright color | | | | market as well. |
| effects. On the other hand, inks made from | | | | Soy inks have come as a blessing to prevent the |
| soybean oil are clear and lend a brighter effect. | | | | degradation of the environment. The need to find |
| That's the reason why most of the newspapers | | | | eco-friendly business solutions has become a |
| use soy inks in comparison to its other | | | | necessity on account of the increasing |
| counterparts. The pigments and chemicals added | | | | environmental hazards posed by industrial growth |
| to soy ink are similar to that used in | | | | all over the world. Use of soy ink or other |
| petroleum-based ink; hence soy ink cannot be | | | | environmental friendly inks has given way to |
| termed as 100% biodegradable. | | | | green printing. In fact, use of eco-friendly printing |
| Soy inks are extremely beneficial during the paper | | | | solutions is welcome news for the environmental |
| recycling process. Removing soy ink stains from | | | | activists as well as a good promotional tool for |
| paper is much easier than other artificial inks. Soy | | | | commercial printing companies. |
| inks are easily washable and cause less damage | | | | |