Pioneer in sustainable printing

Epple has been developing ink and varnish systems for sustainable printing products for over twenty years. Epple’s development work stands as an example for progress in the market: as a pioneer, we introduced mineral oil free sheetfed offset inks as early as 1995 at drupa, and in 2017 we launched PURe®, an ink without metal soaps and photoinitiators.

Öko Plus

ÖkoPlus is the first functioning mineral oil free sheetfed offset printing ink based on a new plant based binder combination.

  • The ink contains no volatile solvents
  • No toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium or cadmium are used in the recipe
  • All binding agent components are created from plant based raw materials

Bo Food® MH

BoFood® MH is the first offset ink worldwide which is based on absorbent food oils and is designed for the outerside printing of primary foodstuff packaging.

  • The BoFood® MH ink series complies with regulations covering e. g. low odour properties, low swelling properties, low migration resp. migration harmlessness
  • The contained printing ink solvents are foodstuffs or at least foodstuff additives; any oils contained are natural oils

Epple has supplied environmentally friendly inks for over 20 years. © Epple Druckfarben AG

BoFood® Organic

BoFood® Organic ist die einzige Offsetfarbe, die auch den Innenseitendruck von Lebensmittelprimärverpackungen ermöglicht.

  • Exclusively contents that are approved for use in the foodstuff industry
  • Potential direct contact with foodstuff is possible
  • Exploitation of extra information and advertising surfaces
  • In addition a BoFood® Organic varnish is used in innerside printing because it possesses an outstanding grease barrier (KIT-Value10-11 possible)
  • The migration harmless varnish consists exclusively of foodstuff components and foodstuff additives and convinces with excellent rub protection

Cobano CF

The Premium Cobano CF ink series is based on a renewable raw materials recipe

  • The series fulfils the required criteria of most European Eco Labels
  • Suitable for IPA free Printing
  • Mineral oil and cobalt dryer free

CC Nature

This ink series has been evaluated regarding the criteria of the Material Health Category of Cradle-to-Cradle™-Product Standard and has been awarded the bronze level.

  • In addition, the ink contains neither cobalt soaps nor mineral oil
  • The series fulfils the required criteria of most European Eco Labels
  • Suitable for IPA free Printing
  • Mineral oil and cobalt dryer free

The team further develops recipes for printing inks. © Epple Druckfarben AG

Fair Play

The Fair Play Series has been developed for the high-level and very special requirements for printed toys. This ink series is especially suitable for the production of children's books and pharmaceutical packaging.

  • Each batch of this ink series is tested before delivery for compliance with the PAK-values according to AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK 2014-08 Cat.II
  • As a matter of routine, conformity with EN71-3 and EN 71-9, SCCP, PAK, Phthalates, Cd+Pb are checked
  • Mineral oil free and cobalt dryer free

PURe®

PURe® is positioned as the third ink system alongside oil based and UV-printing systems. The ink is without any hazardous labelling and combines the best of both worlds when it comes to economics and ecology.

  • Sustainable recipes with raw materials which have been mainly, and binding agents which have been completely, based on renewable raw materials
  • Being free of mineral oils and photoinitiators, PURe® requires no potentially toxic metals like cobalt or manganese for drying
  • Quick and resource saving further processing convince during printing production
  • Doing without radiation-curing systems saves energy costs in drying

Epple Druckfarben AG

Winner of German Packaging Award 2018 and WorldStar Packaging Award 2019