Compatibility for recyclability is the second basic advantage. The deinking rate of water-based digital print ink in the recycling process of aluminum cans reaches up to 98% (vs. 85% that of solvent-based ink), enhancing the purity of recycled aluminum from 95% to 99.2%. Ball Corporation's actual measurement shows that digital printing cans' recycling energy consumption is 15% lower than that of offset printing cans (13,500kWh vs. 15,800kWh per ton of recycled aluminum), and the recycling process is shortened to 30 days (industry average is 45 days) (Source: "Aluminum Circular Economy Report 2023").
The application of chemicals has been significantly minimized. The drying energy consumption of digital printing is 40% lower than UV offset printing (12kW vs. 20kW) with no poisonous photoinitiators (e.g., TPO, 0.5% in offset UV ink). Digital printing has a compliance rate of 100% for the EU REACH regulation (offset print requires an additional processing cost of $0.02 per can to reduce the chemical migration risk). One juice brand saw the time to FDA food contact certification of its products shortened from 28 days to 7 days after switching to digital printing (Source: Esko Compliance Analysis).
Confirmation of environmental protection benefits from industry cases. Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) launched a digital print line in 2023, reducing CO₂ by 12,000 tons annually (equivalent to the annual emissions of 5,000 vehicles), and gaining carbon neutrality certification, resulting in an 18% increase in sales (Source: CCEP 2023 Annual Report). Anheuser-busch InBev has reduced the new product launch cycle by 60% and the trial-and-error cost by 55% through digital printing for small-lot orders (less than 5,000 cans).
Statistics show that digital printing technology application by printed cans can reduce the environmental footprint throughout the entire life cycle by 30%-65%. Although the price of the can increases by 0.05-0.10, the premium capacity is increased by 20% (consumers pay 15%-25% more for environmentally friendly packaging). It is affirmed in "Global Can Trends 2024" that digitally printed cans will account for 35% of the global market by 2025 (only 12% in 2022), reaffirming their double values of ecology and business.
Are digitally printed cans more eco-friendly?
Digital printed cans are clearly advantageous in protecting the environment. According to the "Smithers 2023 Printing Industry Report", VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions of digital print technologies (e.g., HP Indigo) are 92% lower compared to conventional offset print (offset print emissions are approximately 150g/m², while digital print emissions are only 12g/m²). Besides, the usage rate of water-based ink was 100% (60% for solvent-based offset printing ink). The carbon footprint of every can dropped from 120g CO₂ of offset printing to 45g CO₂, down by 62.5% after a certain craft beer brand adopted digital printing (data source: Carbon Trust 2023 certification).
Simplifying the production process reduces wastage of resources. Digital print does not require plate making (plate making in traditional offset print consumes 15% of the cost), welcomes orders from a minimum of 500 cans (offset print minimum is 5,000 cans), and reduces the overstock risk by 70%. In 2022, Red Bull launched regionally limited cans (digital printing) with order volumes precisely matched to demand, reducing aluminum waste by 20% (approximately 50 tons per year) and saving over 180,000 US dollars in spend (Source: Red Bull Sustainable Production White Paper).
Compatibility for recyclability is the second basic advantage. The deinking rate of water-based digital print ink in the recycling process of aluminum cans reaches up to 98% (vs. 85% that of solvent-based ink), enhancing the purity of recycled aluminum from 95% to 99.2%. Ball Corporation's actual measurement shows that digital printing cans' recycling energy consumption is 15% lower than that of offset printing cans (13,500kWh vs. 15,800kWh per ton of recycled aluminum), and the recycling process is shortened to 30 days (industry average is 45 days) (Source: "Aluminum Circular Economy Report 2023").
The application of chemicals has been significantly minimized. The drying energy consumption of digital printing is 40% lower than UV offset printing (12kW vs. 20kW) with no poisonous photoinitiators (e.g., TPO, 0.5% in offset UV ink). Digital printing has a compliance rate of 100% for the EU REACH regulation (offset print requires an additional processing cost of $0.02 per can to reduce the chemical migration risk). One juice brand saw the time to FDA food contact certification of its products shortened from 28 days to 7 days after switching to digital printing (Source: Esko Compliance Analysis).
Confirmation of environmental protection benefits from industry cases. Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) launched a digital print line in 2023, reducing CO₂ by 12,000 tons annually (equivalent to the annual emissions of 5,000 vehicles), and gaining carbon neutrality certification, resulting in an 18% increase in sales (Source: CCEP 2023 Annual Report). Anheuser-busch InBev has reduced the new product launch cycle by 60% and the trial-and-error cost by 55% through digital printing for small-lot orders (less than 5,000 cans).
Statistics show that digital printing technology application by printed cans can reduce the environmental footprint throughout the entire life cycle by 30%-65%. Although the price of the can increases by 0.05-0.10, the premium capacity is increased by 20% (consumers pay 15%-25% more for environmentally friendly packaging). It is affirmed in "Global Can Trends 2024" that digitally printed cans will account for 35% of the global market by 2025 (only 12% in 2022), reaffirming their double values of ecology and business.
Compatibility for recyclability is the second basic advantage. The deinking rate of water-based digital print ink in the recycling process of aluminum cans reaches up to 98% (vs. 85% that of solvent-based ink), enhancing the purity of recycled aluminum from 95% to 99.2%. Ball Corporation's actual measurement shows that digital printing cans' recycling energy consumption is 15% lower than that of offset printing cans (13,500kWh vs. 15,800kWh per ton of recycled aluminum), and the recycling process is shortened to 30 days (industry average is 45 days) (Source: "Aluminum Circular Economy Report 2023").
The application of chemicals has been significantly minimized. The drying energy consumption of digital printing is 40% lower than UV offset printing (12kW vs. 20kW) with no poisonous photoinitiators (e.g., TPO, 0.5% in offset UV ink). Digital printing has a compliance rate of 100% for the EU REACH regulation (offset print requires an additional processing cost of $0.02 per can to reduce the chemical migration risk). One juice brand saw the time to FDA food contact certification of its products shortened from 28 days to 7 days after switching to digital printing (Source: Esko Compliance Analysis).
Confirmation of environmental protection benefits from industry cases. Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) launched a digital print line in 2023, reducing CO₂ by 12,000 tons annually (equivalent to the annual emissions of 5,000 vehicles), and gaining carbon neutrality certification, resulting in an 18% increase in sales (Source: CCEP 2023 Annual Report). Anheuser-busch InBev has reduced the new product launch cycle by 60% and the trial-and-error cost by 55% through digital printing for small-lot orders (less than 5,000 cans).
Statistics show that digital printing technology application by printed cans can reduce the environmental footprint throughout the entire life cycle by 30%-65%. Although the price of the can increases by 0.05-0.10, the premium capacity is increased by 20% (consumers pay 15%-25% more for environmentally friendly packaging). It is affirmed in "Global Can Trends 2024" that digitally printed cans will account for 35% of the global market by 2025 (only 12% in 2022), reaffirming their double values of ecology and business.