Sun Chemical has enhanced its portfolio of nitrocellulose-alternative inks designed specifically for flexible packaging applications, supporting converters, retailers, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies.

The company said that the inks address the known challenges of solvent-based inks and coatings containing nitrocellulose, while being fully compatible with recycling processes, in line with RecyClass and CEFLEX design guidelines.

Nitrocellulose (NC) is used in solvent-based inks and coatings, but today faces supply issues, rising costs, and sustainability concerns. Its thermal instability during high-temperature recycling causes odor, discoloration, and contamination, affecting the quality of recyclate, reducing its potential for reuse.

Sun Chemical claims to offer the broadest portfolio of NC-alternative inks, coatings, primers, and adhesives, optimized to work together as a complete system. Available for both flexo and gravure printing, the portfolio includes SunSpectro SolvaCycle solutions for surface printing, SunStrato DuraCycle, SunStrato Duratort and SunStrato Duralam for lamination printing, and SunUno SoliCycle, a multipurpose option that can be used for both surface and lamination printing.

These solutions meet customer needs and market requirements, and are backed by the company’s innovation, expertise, and continued investment in R&D. In addition, Sun Chemical’s modular system, based on polyurethane (PU) concentrates, allows converters to make a smooth transition from NC/PU inks to NC-free alternatives, ensuring supply continuity and stability on press, the company reported.

By replacing NC, Sun Chemical’s NC-alternative portfolio is expected to reinforce value for converters and brand owners across four key elements. Firstly, the ink will help converters mitigate risks from supply chain volatility. Beyond risk reduction, the inks is also expected to deliver added value through total cost of goods benefits, such as lower eco-modulated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees, ensuring efficiency. They also proclaim to support sustainability by enabling recyclability in line with packaging design guides and meeting end-of-life requirements, while helping reduce regulatory costs and ensuring the availability of quality recyclate to meet plastic tax requirements.

Mehran Yazdani, president, packaging and advanced materials at Sun Chemical, said, “Our NC-alternative solutions offer customers a clear pathway to sustainable growth. By mitigating supply risks, enabling efficiencies, and supporting end-of-life recyclability targets, we’re giving our customers the solutions they need to meet evolving brand, retailer, and regulatory demands, without compromise on quality or safety. This enhanced portfolio reflects Sun Chemical’s long-term investment in innovation, expertise, and collaboration with converters to deliver value beyond ink and to allow them to ‘Experience. Transformation’.”