German ink maker brings toluene-free inks for safe food packaging in Bangladesh
It goes without saying that a consumer is initially drawn to the eye-catching and shiny packaging that are lined up in rows on long shelves in supermarkets.
Moreover, this glossy packaging also helps promote sales and establish a brand image among consumers.
However, the ink used in packaging is a mixture of several chemicals, some of which may be hazardous and have the potential to contaminate food if they come into contact with it.
The substances could be poisonous, carcinogenic, mutagenic, repro-toxic, or even endocrine disruptors, depending on the risk.
Among the chemicals, toluene is a solvent used in printing inks which occurs naturally in crude oil and in the tolu tree which earned disrepute globally for its bad toxicological profile and other negative effects.
Toluene is hazardous to human health as it is responsible for many health hazards like skin irritation, headaches, dizziness, hallucinations, confusion and even damaging organs.
For many years, EuPIA (European Printing Ink Association) excludes toluene from food packaging inks and recently, China, Sri Lanka, and India banned toluene in food packaging material.
However, Bangladesh is yet to have any specific guidelines and regulations regarding the use of packaging ink.
But, Siegwerk – a German-based one of the leading global ink and coating manufacturers – produces toluene-free safe food packaging inks in Bangladesh to provide it to the local food producers.
A group of Bangladeshi journalists recently paid a visit to the Siegwerk factory in the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone of Narayanganj, where Angshuman Mukherjee, the company’s country head, shared his opinions with the media.
With more than 190 years of experience in specialized ink technology and customer service, Siegwerk currently serves clients in more than 100 different countries.
According to Mukherjee, the German company invested $3.45 million to open its blending centre in the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone in 2021.
A strong customer base of 35 local businesses, including Nestle, Unilever, Arla Foods (Dano), Perfetti Van Melle, Matador, and Pran, helps the ink makers enhance their position.
Currently, they produce 3,600 tons of ink per annum at their fully automated ink dispenser integrated with SAP – the first of its kind in Bangladesh, said Angshuman Mukherjee.
He also said that currently, the country’s brands need around 850 tons of packaging ink per month and among them, 50% are imported and the rest are supplied by Siegwerk and some other companies.
Responding to a question, he said that they have built a toluene-free company out of a commitment to the people and the environment and they are now working to increase public awareness in the country.
“People of Europe or other countries are aware of certain things after a scandal takes place but we want to make people aware in Bangladesh before anything happens,” he added.
He said that they had cheaper packaging options, but the only 100% safe way is to go toluene-free.
In response to a question on the issue of taxation, he said that they are not getting any special benefits, they are getting common benefits for establishing factories in EZ/EPZ.
He also said that the inks produced at Siegwerk are compliant with global regulatory and brand owner requirements, ensuring products are safe for end-use packaging applications.
“We are drafting a food packaging guideline to assist the government in excluding the use of toluene-based ink, as they were asked for opinions about better food safety,” he added.
Responding to another question, he said that they have expectations about the Bangladeshi market as the country’s economy is growing, urbanization, infrastructure etc.
After Siegwerk, Japanese Sakata Inx Corporation and Chinese ADV Process Co Ltd are also manufacturing toluene-free packaging inks in their factory units in the Meghna Economic Zone.
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