Sun Chemical has launched SunPak DFC inPace, a sheetfed offset ink system for direct food contact folding cartons, manufactured at its Badalona Center of Excellence. The company has also added nine new base colours, including a food-compliant green pigment, to its AquaSafe water-based direct food contact ink portfolio.
Why this mattersNew direct food contact inks that cut plastic laminates give converters and brand owners a route to comply with EPR and PPWR recyclability rules.
- SunPak DFC inPace is a sheetfed offset ink system for direct food contact folding carton packaging.
- The product is manufactured at Sun Chemical's Badalona Center of Excellence for food packaging.
- AquaSafe water-based ink portfolio has gained nine new base colours including a new green pigment.
- AquaSafe inks are compatible with paper, paperboard, flexible films and aluminium foil.
- SunPak DFC inPace uses Sun Chemical's proprietary Pace Technology and offers bio-based carbon content verified by Carbon-14 testing.
- Sun Chemical has integrated GamutViewer into SunColorBox to let brand owners verify colour achievability before production.
Sun Chemical has agreed a partnership with Archipelago Technology Group to combine Archipelago's Powerdrop non-contact coating machinery with Sun Chemical's liquid barrier coatings for paper and molded-fibre packaging. The companies say the combined system keeps coating weight below the 5% threshold needed for the EU PPWR's top recyclability grade, and a first product, BARV656 VAPORBLOC DFC HOTFOOD, has completed validation and is commercially available. The tie-up targets brand owners and packaging manufacturers seeking mono-material, recyclable alternatives to laminated paper packaging.
Why this mattersPPWR grading now links coating weight directly to EPR fees and market access, pushing suppliers to design barrier layers that keep fibre packaging mono-material and recyclable.
- Sun Chemical and Archipelago Technology Group announced the partnership on 15 September 2026.
- The system pairs Archipelago's Powerdrop non-contact coater with Sun Chemical's liquid barrier and heat-seal coatings.
- First product BARV656 VAPORBLOC DFC HOTFOOD has completed testing and is commercially available.
- The partnership targets keeping coating weight below the 5% threshold for PPWR Grade A recyclability status.
- PPWR entered into force and began general application across EU member states from August 2026.
- Grade A packaging under PPWR must be at least 95% recyclable mono-material to gain lowest EPR fees and permanent market access.
Aldi and Arla have entered a new phase of work with UK traceability firm Polytag, applying UV-tagged labels to Arla's milk bottle range produced at its Oakthorpe site to track packaging through the recycling stream. The labels are printed by Saica Flex using a fluorescent ink from Sun Chemical, in what Sun Chemical describes as the first commercial use of that ink with Polytag's detection technology.
Why this mattersReal-time recycling-stream tracking gives brand owners and retailers data to support packaging circularity claims ahead of tightening EPR and recycled-content rules.
- UV-tagged labels applied to Arla's milk bottle range at its Oakthorpe site
- Labels printed by Saica Flex
- Fluorescent ink supplied by Sun Chemical, marking its first commercial use with Polytag's detection technology
- Ink tested against Recyclass Washing Quick Test Procedures and EPBP Quicktest QT 507
- Aldi UK involved via its Plastics and Packaging Director Luke Emery
- Arla Foods UK involved via its Head of Sustainability Helena Delgado Nordmann
- Polytag says the tagging can be integrated into existing production lines without affecting manufacturing efficiency
