Flexo printing is the dominant process in food packaging, and the inks used must meet stringent domestic and international regulations, adapt to high-speed production lines, and work with diverse substrates. StarColor has over a decade of experience in water-based ink development and has launched the SC Series, a flexo water-based ink designed with “comprehensive compliance, versatile scene adaptation, and full-cycle cost reduction” as its core advantages. It has become a trusted partner for well-known food brands and export-oriented packaging manufacturers, redefining safety and efficiency standards in food packaging inks.

1. Comprehensive Compliance: The “Safety Pass” from Domestic to Global Markets

The baseline for food packaging inks is “zero migration, no harm.” StarColor has established a full-chain compliance system from raw materials to finished products, ensuring that every batch of ink can easily pass stringent domestic and international tests, fortifying the safety of food packaging.

1.1 Raw Material Traceability: Eliminating Risk Factors from the Source

StarColor has established a “food-grade raw material entry list,” with all ingredients screened through multiple checks:

• Resins are FDA-certified acrylic-polyurethane composite resins (meeting 21 CFR 175.300 Appendix A);
• Inks use organic, eco-friendly pigments with heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury) ≤ 0.0005 mg/kg, well below the GB 4806.14-2023 limit of 0.1 mg/kg;
• Solvents are primarily deionized water (78%) with a small amount of food-grade ethanol as a co-solvent, completely eliminating benzene, toluene, phthalates, and other prohibited substances, effectively reducing migration risks from the start.

1.2 Full Certification: Meeting Global Market Standards

The SC6000 series undergoes full-scale testing by domestic and international authorities, providing a one-stop compliance package:

• Domestic compliance with both GB 4806.14-2023 and GB 38507-2020, total migration ≤ 6 mg/dm² (standard limit: 10 mg/dm²), VOCs ≤ 10 g/kg;
• Export to the U.S. and Europe with FDA 21 CFR 175.300 and EU 10/2011 certifications, specific migration ≤ 0.008 mg/kg, benzophenone residue < 0.05 mg/kg;
• For near-mouth food packaging (e.g., bread, candies, masks), the SC6000 series passes “40°C sealed for 72 hours odor testing” with no off-odors, meeting SGS sensory standards for “food-grade odorless” packaging.

2. Full-Spectrum Performance: The “High-Efficiency Printing Machine” for Flexo Inks

Flexo printing is characterized by high speed, wide substrate compatibility, and fine printing. StarColor’s flexo water-based ink has optimized formulas that achieve breakthrough performance in adhesion, drying speed, and color stability, perfectly adapting to the diverse needs of food packaging.

2.1 Ultra-Strong Adhesion: One Ink for All Substrates

For commonly used substrates in food packaging such as BOPP, PE, PET, and paper, the SC6000 series uses “composite resin + silane coupling agent” technology to achieve adhesion levels of 5B (GB/T 9286-1998) in the cross-hatch adhesion test. After tape peeling, the ink layer area loss is < 1%. In paper substrates, no ink bleed-through or smearing occurs, with over 500 cycles of abrasion resistance at 500g load. A multi-purpose packaging plant reported reducing production line changeover time from 2 hours to just 20 minutes, increasing production efficiency by 60% after switching to SC6000 ink.

2.2 Rapid Drying: Perfect for High-Speed Production Lines

Utilizing an “intelligent crosslinking curing system,” the SC6000 series achieves membrane formation in 0.3 seconds under 45°C hot air and full drying in 2 seconds (water content ≤ 1.8%), perfectly adapting to flexo high-speed production lines (200-300 meters/minute). Compared to traditional inks, a snack packaging company saw its daily output increase from 300,000 to 450,000 units, meeting peak demand of 500,000 units during the busy season, while reducing waste rates from 8% to 2%, saving over $1,800 in raw material costs per month.

2.3 Scene Durability: Adapting to Complex Food Packaging Environments

For various food packaging environments, including hot food, frozen, and oily products, the SC6000 series has specific performance enhancements:

• High-temperature resistance: Ink layer does not soften or peel at 70°C for 60 minutes, suitable for fast food packaging;
• Low-temperature resistance: Ink layer remains intact after 24 hours at -20°C, meeting the needs of frozen food packaging;
• Oil resistance: Ink withstands 24 hours in 10# motor oil with no penetration, suitable for fried food packaging;
• Acid resistance: After 24 hours in 3% acetic acid, no smearing occurs, suitable for vinegar and juice packaging.

2.4 Accurate Color: “Faithful Reproduction” of Brand VI

Using nano-level pigment dispersion technology (particle size 2-3 μm), the SC6000 series achieves clear 150-line/inch dot reproduction, with a 50% dot expansion rate ≤ 6% and color difference ΔE ≤ 0.6, accurately matching Pantone colors. After switching to SC6000, a restaurant chain achieved 99.8% consistency in color across different batches of hamburger packaging, increasing brand consistency and consumer recognition by 25%.

3. Full-Cycle Cost Reduction: The “Cost-Performance King”

StarColor optimizes technology and integrates the supply chain to make eco-compliant inks more affordable, reducing costs across raw material consumption, production waste, and environmental expenses.

3.1 High Solid Content Reduces Material Costs: 15% Reduction in Unit Area Cost

The ZX-RW-F series has a solid content of 48%, much higher than the industry average of 35%. This reduces ink usage by 27% for the same print area. In a packaging plant with monthly ink consumption of 10 tons, switching to SC6000 reduced monthly consumption to 7.3 tons, saving $5,000 in material costs each month, or $60,000 annually.

3.2 Low Waste Reduces Defective Rate: Waste Rate Reduced to 3%

Due to its strong adhesion, fast drying, and high stability, the SC6000 series controls the waste rate to below 3%, far below the industry average of 10%. In an export-oriented packaging plant producing 2 million food bags per month, switching to SC6000 reduced waste by 140,000 bags per month, saving $4,000 in raw materials monthly.

3.3 Eco-Friendly, No Expensive Pollution Control Investments

With VOCs content only 10 g/kg, well below national limits, printing workshops don’t need to invest in expensive RTO incinerators. A simple activated carbon adsorption device is sufficient to meet compliance, reducing annual operating costs from $46,000 to $2,800, a 93% savings. Additionally, some regions offer environmental tax reductions, further lowering costs.

3.4 Export Advantage: 20%-30% Cheaper Than Imported Brands

Compared to imported flexo water-based inks from the U.S. and Europe, the SC6000 series is 20%-30% cheaper, and provides English SDS documentation, customs clearance support, and certificates of origin. With a lead time of only 2-3 weeks (compared to 4-6 weeks for imported brands), an export packaging company to India reduced ink procurement costs by 25%, increased customs efficiency by 50%, and secured a year-long contract with a local fast-food chain.

Conclusion: Choose StarColor for “Safety, Efficiency, and Cost Savings”

In the increasingly competitive food packaging industry, ink choice directly impacts product compliance, production efficiency, and market competitiveness. StarColor’s SC6000 flexo water-based ink provides comprehensive compliance to ensure safety, full-spectrum performance for higher efficiency, and full-cycle cost reduction to optimize profit margins, all while offering stable, reliable production.

Currently, StarColor has served over 2,000 food packaging enterprises, covering fields like snacks, fast food, bakery, and frozen foods. It is the trusted choice for food packaging inks. Contact us today to receive free samples and testing reports, and let our professional technical team customize a solution for your needs, ensuring “compliance with confidence and efficient production!”