Soy ink
A vegetable-oil-based printing ink that replaces petroleum solvents, reducing VOC emissions and making paper easier to recycle.
Soy ink swaps the petroleum-derived solvents in conventional offset ink for soybean oil. The visible difference is small (slightly softer color, marginally longer dry time on press), but the environmental difference is substantial: ~80% lower VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions during printing, and significantly easier de-inking at the recycling mill — which is what keeps recycled paper fiber clean enough to use again.
Soy inks are widely available in offset and have become a near-default for sustainability-focused brands. They cost a few percent more than petroleum inks but typically don't add visible time to a quote turnaround. For flexographic and digital printing, water-based inks and toner-based systems offer similar environmental wins.
Related terms
- B-fluteA medium-weight corrugated grade (~3 mm thick) that adds real crush resistance while still printing cleanly — common for shipping mailers.
- DielineThe flat, two-dimensional template that defines exactly how a piece of packaging is cut, scored, and folded before it becomes a box.
- E-fluteA thin, fine corrugated material (~1.5 mm thick) used in mailer and retail boxes for a clean print surface with light cushioning.
- EmbossingA finishing technique that raises a portion of the printed surface using paired dies, creating a tactile relief without ink.