Packaging Inks - the most visible industry

The packaging industry bought inks worth well over £150 million in 2009 and is a major market for inks. Coatings usage in packaging is of a smaller order being mainly for food, soft drink and beer cans and closures and labels for glass containers.

Some examples give the magnitude of the sector: 600 million paper sacks, for cement, fertilisers and many other products are made each year in the UK and over 80% are printed with essential health, safety and marketing information.

Take printing of breakfast cereals packets: 24 million corn flake packets every year from one firm – Kellogg’s – and that’s only one manufacturer and one of their many products!

Food safety is a paramount issue and the coatings industry plays a vital part. Packaging must keep the right things in, whilst keeping the wrong things out. We use 10 billion metal cans for food and drink each year. Special internal coatings prevent interaction between the metal and the contents thus ensuring the wholesomeness of the food. The labelling and decoration of paper, plastic and glass containers likewise have to take account of safety and protection during handling and use.