Eco Mark Product Category No.

102

“Printing Ink Version 2.8”

Certification Criteria

―Applicable Scope―

A: Offset lithographic ink and news ink

- Offset lithographic ink
- News ink
B: Gravure ink
- Printing inks classified as “gravure ink,” excluding gravure ink
for publishing.
C: Resin typographic ink
D: Other inks
- Of those classified as “Other inks,” paper printing inks dried by
UV-curing, and offset lithographic gold and silver inks

Established: December 18, 2002

Last revised: October 1, 2012 Japan Environment Association
Expiration date: December 31, 2030 Eco Mark Office

NOTE: This document is a translation of the criteria written in Japanese. In the event
of dispute, the original document should be taken as authoritative.
 102 V2 Criteria

Eco Mark Product Category No.102

“Printing Ink Version 2.8”
Certification Criteria
Japan Environment Association
Eco Mark Office

1. Purpose of Establishing Certification Criteria

Japan produced 446,351 tons of printing ink in 2000, the second largest volume in
the world after the U.S. Purpose of use is extensive, ranging from paper to food
packaging and building materials. Particularly, in the information–oriented society
that we live in, printing ink is indispensable for information media such as newspapers
and magazines.
Some types of printing ink contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for melting
resin, and these VOC components may vaporize or disperse during the printing process.
Many VOCs have adverse effects on the human body such as autonomic imbalance,
headache, and nausea. Some chemical substances such as toluene and xylene have been
found to affect nervous system and reproduction functions when inhaled or exposed to
them. In addition to photochemical reaction in air caused by photochemical oxidants,
health-related issues such as hypersensitivity to chemical substances have been raised
in recent years, making it an important task to reduce VOC discharge from sources
such as factories. Manufacturers of printing ink have been making efforts to ensure the
safety of the work environment by switching to aromatic hydrocarbon-free and toluene-
free solvents, as well as efforts to reduce VOC discharge by switching to water-based
ink.
Eco Mark Product Category No. 102 “Offset Printing Ink”, established in 1997,
covers “offset lithographic ink” and “news ink”, recommending a change to aroma-free
offset printing ink. As a result, over the last five years from the establishment of
certification criteria, about 90% of all offset printing inks have been switched to
products that do not contain aromatic hydrocarbons (estimate by Japan Printing Ink
Makers’ Association), thereby contributing to the reduction of air pollution. In the
present product category review, printing ink with further reduced VOC content
including inks that have not been covered before are recommended to further contribute
to the prevention of air pollution and improvement of the work environment in the
printing process. Printing inks that use vegetable oil for vehicle are also recommended
since they will reduce VOC discharge and also help avoid the use of depleting petroleum
resources. This Product Category also covers oil-based printing inks made of vegetable
oil.

2. Applicable Scope
Applicable products shall be the following groups of printing ink according to the
product category of printing ink in Kagaku-kougyo-toukei-nenpo, issued by METI.
A: Offset lithographic ink and news ink
- Offset lithographic ink

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 102 V2 Criteria

- News ink
B: Gravure ink
- Printing inks classified as “gravure ink,” excluding gravure ink for publishing.
C: Resin typographic ink
D: Other inks
- Of those classified as “Other inks,” paper printing inks dried by UV-curing,
and offset lithographic gold and silver inks

3. Terminology
Content rate The percentage (%) used to indicate content rate in these
certification criteria shall be weight percentage unless
specified otherwise.
Recycled material Materials made of post-consumer materials or pre-consumer
materials (waste edible oil, etc.)
Post-consumer Materials and products disposed after use as products
materials
Pre-consumer Materials or defective products disposed in the
materials manufacturing process. However, this excludes materials and
products recycled in the same process (or plant)
Resin Polymeric components used as components of printing ink
Vegetable oil Linseed oil, tung oil, soybean oil, and dehydrated castor oil.
VOC These are volatile organic compounds classified as “highly
(Volatile Organic volatile organic compounds” and “volatile organic
Compound) compounds” in the classification of chemical substances by
components WHO (World Health Organization)
Aromatic Aromatic hydrocarbon compounds detected from ink solvent
components by applying the Testing method of component-JIS liquid
petroleum products (JIS K2536)

4. Certification Criteria and Certification Procedure

4-1. Common Environmental Criteria and Certification Procedure

(1) Use of chemical substances shall be controlled appropriately. Specifically, the

MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for printing inks shall be provided according to
the Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in
the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof

[Certification Procedure]
The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) issued by printing ink manufacturers
shall be submitted.

(2) Substances restricted by the Japan Printing Ink Maker’s Association’s “Self-
imposed Controls on Printing Ink (Negative List Control)” shall not be added as
components.

[Certification Procedure]

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 102 V2 Criteria

Certificates stating compliance to Negative List regulations shall be submitted

(Printing Ink Blend Certificate).

(3) The energy used in the manufacture of printing ink shall not be more than that
of conventional products.

[Certification Procedure]
The average amount of energy used in the manufacturing of the printing ink to be
examined shall be indicated compared with conventional products (attached
certificate).

(4) In manufacturing the applied product, related environmental laws and

regulations and pollution control agreement (hereinafter referred to as the
“Environmental Laws, etc.”) must be followed with respect to air pollution, water
contamination, noise, offensive odor, and emission of hazardous substances in the
area where the plant performing the final manufacturing process is located.
In addition, the state of compliance with the Environmental Laws, etc. for the past
five years from the date of application (whether there is any violation) must be
reported. If there is any violation, proper remedies and preventive measures shall
have been already taken, and the related Environmental Laws, etc. must thereafter
be followed appropriately.

[Certification Procedure]
With respect to the compliance with the Environmental Laws, etc. in the area where
the plant performing the final manufacturing process is located, a certificate issued
by the representative of the business of manufacturing the applied product or the
relevant plant manager (entry or attachment of a list of names of the
Environmental Laws, etc.) must be submitted.
In addition, the applicants shall report whether there is any violation in the past
five years, including a violation subject to administrative punishment or
administrative guidance, and if there is, the following documents in a and b must
be submitted:
a. With respect to the fact of violation, guidance documents from administrative
agencies (including order of correction and warning) and copies of written
answers (including those reporting causes and results of correction) to such
documents (clearly indicating a series of communication);
b. Following materials (copies of recording documents, etc.) concerning the
management system for compliance with the Environmental Laws, etc. in 1)-
5):
1) List of the Environmental Laws, etc. related to the area where the plant is
located;
2) Implementation system (organizational chart with roles, etc.);
3) Bylaws stipulating retention of recording documents;

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 102 V2 Criteria

4) Recurrence prevention measures (future preventive measures);

5) State of implementation based on recurrence prevention measures (result of
checking of the state of compliance, including the result of onsite inspection).

(5) To provide the printing manufacturer with information on the appropriate

handling of printing ink, the MSDS, instruction manual, product label, and product
pamphlet shall include the form of measures to prevent contact of printing ink with
skin, emergency measures in the event printing ink enters the eye, precautions on
handling and storage.

[Certification Procedure]
Indications of information on appropriate handling of printing ink shall be
submitted.

(6) Resin containing halogen elements shall not be added to printing ink as
components. This criterion does not apply to colorants, fluorine additives, and
printing ink for film.

[Certification Procedure]
Whether resins containing halogen elements (excluding colorants, fluorine
additives) are used shall be indicated (attached certificate).

(7) The quality of drying in the printing process of the printing ink to be examined
should not be considerably inferior to conventional printing inks of the same type.

[Certification Procedure]
Test results certifying that the quality of drying in the printing process of the
printing ink applying is not considerably inferior to conventional products shall be
submitted.

4-2. Individual Environmental Criteria and Certification Procedure

A. Offset lithographic ink and news ink
(8) Offset lithographic and news ink shall only use solvents containing aromatic
components detected by the JIS K2536 method less than 1% of the total volume.

[Certification Procedure]
Results of tests on solvent components by chromatography, etc. and analysis
method, or certificates of tests results issued by solvent suppliers shall be
submitted in the form of document signed by the applicant. The results of test shall
also be included in Printing Ink Blend Certificate.

(9) Offset lithographic and news ink shall use vegetable oil or recycled material
(waste edible oil, etc.), and shall meet the following criterion (a) or (b).

(a) Offset rotary ink shall contain petroleum solvent less than 45% of the total.

(b) Sheet-fed ink and news ink shall contain petroleum solvent less than 30% of the

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total, and less than 3% VOC components.

[Certification Procedure]
A certificate to be issued by an ink company shall state a kind of vegetable oil (i.e.,
soy bean oil, linseed oil, tung oil, etc.). If any recycled material (waste edible oil,
etc.) is used, a raw material certificate issued by a supplier shall be submitted.
For an amount of petroleum solvent contained in printing ink, attach an MSDS
stating the amount of solvent and a certificate issued by an ink manufacturer
stating the maximum blended amount of solvent (if more than one color is used).
For a method of determining quantity of VOC components in printing ink, attach
test result by gas chromatograph, etc., and a certificate stating an amount of VOC
components in ink to be calculated from the amount of VOC components of the
solvent alone. In addition, if more than one color is used, an amount of a maximum
VOC component shall be stated.
In addition, a blend certificate of printing ink shall be submitted. The certificate
shall list a person in charge of management of Eco Mark products, and show that
each amount to be blended into a product is specified in a batch card/job order and
controlled/checked.

(10) In the recycling of printed matter using the printing ink for the production of
recycled paper, the environmental load in de-inking shall not be greater than that
of conventional oil-based printing inks.

[Certification Procedure]
Certificates of test results, etc. issued by the plant manufacturing recycled paper
or by industrial test centers shall be submitted.

B. Gravure ink
(11) Gravure ink shall contain aromatic organic solvents less than 1% of the total.

[Certification Procedure]
For an amount of aromatic organic solvent in printing ink, attach an MSDS stating
the amount of solvent or test results and a certificate issued by an ink manufacturer
stating the maximum blended amount of solvent (if more than one color is used).
In addition, submit a blend certificate of printing ink. The certificate shall list a
person in charge of management of Eco Mark products, and show that each amount
to be blended into a product is specified in a batch card/job order and
controlled/checked.

(12) Gravure ink shall contain less than 20% VOC components, and it shall be
designed so that printing can be carried out at less than 30% VOC components.
However, this criterion does not apply to solvent-based gravure ink for film.

[Certification Procedure]

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 102 V2 Criteria

For a method of determining quantity of VOC components in printing ink, attach

test result by gas chromatograph, etc., and a certificate stating an amount of VOC
components in ink to be calculated from the amount of VOC components of the
solvent alone. In addition, if more than one color is used, an amount of a maximum
VOC component shall be stated.
In addition, submit a blend certificate of printing ink. The certificate shall list a
person in charge of management of Eco Mark products, and show that each amount
to be blended into a product is specified in a batch card/job order and
controlled/checked.
The location of indications explaining that products have been designed so that
printing can be carried out at less than 30% VOC components in the instruction
manual, product labels, or pamphlets shall be submitted.

(13) Solvent-based gravure ink shall not contain toluene and xylene.

[Certification Procedure]
Certificates stating whether or not toluene or xylene has been added shall be
submitted. (Printing Ink Blend Certificate)

C. Resin typographic ink

(14) The content of aromatic organic solvents in printing ink shall be less than 1% of
the total.

[Certification Procedure]
Submit a certificate issued by an ink manufacturer stating the amount of aromatic
organic solvent in printing ink. If any solvent other than water-based, aromatic,
and aliphatic solvent is used, submit test results by gas chromatograph, etc.
In addition, submit a blend certificate of printing ink. The certificate shall list a
person in charge of management of Eco Mark products, and show that each amount
to be blended into a product is specified in a batch card/job order and
controlled/checked.

(15) Resin typographic ink shall contain shall contain less than 5% VOC components.
However, those for film shall contain less than 20% VOC components, and it shall
be designed so that printing can be carried out at less than 30% VOC components.

[Certification Procedure]
For a method of determining quantity of VOC components in printing ink, attach
test result by gas chromatograph, etc., and a certificate stating an amount of VOC
components in ink to be calculated from the amount of VOC components of the
solvent alone. In addition, if more than one color is used, an amount of a maximum
VOC component shall be stated.
In addition, submit a blend certificate of printing ink. The certificate shall list a

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person in charge of management of Eco Mark products, and show that each amount
to be blended into a product is specified in a batch card/job order and
controlled/checked.
The location of indications explaining that products have been designed so that
printing can be carried out at less than 30% VOC components in the instruction
manual, product labels, or pamphlets shall be submitted.

(16) Solvent-based resin typographic ink should not contain toluene and xylene.

[Certification Procedure]
A certificate shall state whether or not toluene or xylene has been added. (Printing
Ink Blend Certificate)

(17) In the recycling of printed matter using the printing ink for the production of
recycled paper, environmental load in de-inking shall not be greater than that of
conventional resin typographic inks. However, this criterion does not apply to resin
typographic inks if the substrate is other than paper.

[Certification Procedure]
Certificates of test results, etc. issued by the plant manufacturing recycled paper
or by industrial test centers shall be submitted.

D. Other Inks
(18) Paper printing inks dried by UV-curing shall contain aromatic organic solvents
less than 1% of the total volume, and less than 3% VOC components.

[Certification Procedure]
For a capacity ratio of solvents, and a method of determining quantity of VOC
components in printing ink, attach test result by gas chromatograph, etc., and a
certificate stating an amount of VOC components in ink to be calculated from the
amount of VOC components of the solvent alone. In addition, if more than one
color is used, an amount of a maximum VOC component shall be stated.
In addition, submit a blend certificate of printing ink. The certificate shall list a
person in charge of management of Eco Mark products, and show that each amount
to be blended into a product is specified in a batch card/job order and
controlled/checked.

(19) Offset lithographic gold ink and silver ink shall only use solvents containing
aromatic hydrocarbons detected by the JIS K2536 method less than 1% of the total
volume, and the amount of petroleum solvent shall be less than the content shown
in Table 1. Further sheet-fed ink shall meet the standard of less than 3% VOC
components.

Table 1 Weight Percent of Petroleum Solvent in Printing Ink

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Sheet-fed ink Offset rotary ink

Gold ink 25%
Silver ink 30% 35%

[Certification Procedure]
A test result and a method of analysis of solvent composition by gas chromatograph,
etc., or a test data certificate of a solvent supplier shall be submitted as a sealed
document.
For an amount of petroleum solvent contained in printing ink, attach an MSDS
stating the amount of solvent and a certificate issued by an ink manufacturer
stating the maximum blended amount of solvent (if more than one color is used).
For a method of determining quantity of VOC components in printing ink, attach
test result by gas chromatograph, etc., and a certificate stating an amount of VOC
in ink to be calculated from the amount of VOC of the solvent alone. In addition, if
more than one color is used, an amount of a maximum VOC shall be stated.
In addition, submit a blend certificate of printing ink. The certificate shall list a
person in charge of management of Eco Mark products, and show that each amount
to be blended into a product is specified in a batch card/job order and
controlled/checked.

(20) In the recycling of printed matter using the applying printing ink for the
production of recycled paper, environmental load in de-inking shall not be greater
than that of conventional oil printing inks.
For UV-cured offset lithographic printing ink, it shall be designed with particular
consideration to de-inking and its de-inking performance shall be equivalent to or
greater than oil printing inks. Specifically, the ink shall be “Recycle-ready UV ink”
defined by Japan Printing Ink Makers Association.

[Certification Procedure]
Certificates of test results, etc. issued by the plant manufacturing recycled paper
or by industrial test centers shall be submitted.
For requirements of UV-cured paper printing ink, a certificate such as test results
showing the ink is the “Recycle-ready UV ink” defined by Japan Printing Ink
Makers Association.

4-3. Criteria on Quality and Certification Procedures

(21) Quality control should be implemented adequately in the manufacturing stage.
For items for which a measuring method is prescribed in the JIS, that measuring
method should be followed.

[Certification Procedure]
Certificates and declarations issued by the manager of the plant manufacturing the

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product, stating that quality control is being implemented adequately in the

manufacturing stage, and that only products passing quality inspections are
shipped, shall be submitted.

5. Product Classification, Indication and Others

Omitted.

Established: December 18, 2002 (Version 2.0)

Revised: December 26, 2003
Revised: July 1, 2004 (Version 2.1)
Revised: October 19, 2006 (6.(2) Version 2.2)
Revised: August 21, 2008 (4-1.(4),(9),(11),(12),(14)-(16),(18),(19) Version2.3)
Revised: November 25, 2008 (2, 4-1(2),(8),(9),(11)-(16),(18)-(20),5(2)) Version2.4)
Revised: March 15, 2010 (4-2(20) Version2.5)
Revised: March 1, 2011 (Version2.6)
Revised: July 13, 2012 (Version2.7)
Revised: October 1, 2012 (4-1-2(20) Version2.8)
Extension of Expiration date: February 1, 2014
Extension of Expiration date: January 7, 2019
Extension of Expiration date: March 15, 2024
Expiration date: December 31, 2030

The Certification Criteria for the Product Category will be revised when necessary.

Appendix
Omitted.

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