Inks and Chemicals — Environmental Challenges

Solution Solutions

"SARA reportables such as ethylene-based glycols and glycol ethers have come under scrutiny, and reducing and/or eliminating them has become necessary," Behrens says. "Some things that have occurred is the dramatic reduction of VOC use in fountain solutions, use of lower vapor pressure type solvents in press washes—which helps reduce flammable and highly volatile cleaning solvents—and the use of safer chemicals to make the working environment safer. The standards have not really changed since the mid to late '90s when the Clean Air Laws/Act was implemented. New VOC regulations were implemented at this time and impacted everybody. The list for SARA reportables continues to get larger, and other minor regulations continue to be implemented on a more local and regional basis. With this we continue to update MSDSs on a yearly basis.