An Industry-Wide Headache
DPDA pointed out many paper recyclers are successfully using digitally printed papers in their process today, but stressed the need for industry standards worldwide, and testing methods to compare recycling efficiency between different print technologies and recycling processes.
Based on encouraging results to date, HP has concluded that feasible recyclability and deinking solutions exist today or can be developed for all of HP’s digital printing technologies. For instance, HP Indigo LEP and deinking HP Indigo presses use HP ElectroInk, a proprietary liquid ink. Papers printed with HP ElectroInk version 4.0 are recyclable, based on typical two-loop deinking processes. Two loop deinking generally refers to two cycles through a set of deinking unit operations with a flotation step in each cycle. It’s commonly used in graphic arts grade pulp. The company stated there’s been an improvement in deinking performance compared to older generation ElectroInk, based on innovations from its Indigo division.