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UV+EB

THE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

If Green House Gas (GHG) emissions are the metric and energy prices continue to skyrocket, UV+EB curing and especially UV LED curing wins!

Jennifer Heathcote, VP Business Development, GEW, Inc.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

The entire UV+EB industry is committed to providing sustainable solutions through

Energy Savings
Product Durability
Low VOC
Carbon Reduction
Compostability
Recyclability
BioBased Materials

Reduced Footprint

Sustainability Committee

Recyclability of UV and EB
Printed and Coated Paper

Partners & Resources

UV+EB LED and Sustainability

Circularity by Design Guideline for Fibre-Based Packaging

June 2023

UV+EB Cured Products Rated as “Easier to Recycle”

Improving Recyclability of Paperboard Packaging with Decorative Coatings

August 26, 2022

UV-LED curing – eco-friendly and energy-saving technology

May 31, 2021

Sustainability News

New Sustainability Site Launched by RadTech
Sustainability Committee Updates
4Evergreen 2022 Guidance Marks UV/EB/LED as Compatible for Recycling!

FTC Seeks Comments on Sustainability and Recyclability in Green Guides

The FTC has specifically called out compostability and recyclability as areas of interest

Sustainability Sessions and Meeting Held at BIG IDEAS!

EPA Launches New Grant Opportunities

Grant Funding in California

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Energy Savings

Energy costs are soaring, and now more than ever it is important to find innovative solutions to help conserve energy. In almost all conventional methods where an oven is required for curing, UV and EB technology can reduce energy usage by 50% or more by eliminating the oven, replacing it with a curing lamp which uses less energy.

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Product Durabililty

UV and EB curable coatings, inks, and adhesives provide superior scratch-resistance, performance, weatherability, and durability. This means that a product created with UV+EB technology will also last longer, reducing the need to throw it away and replace it, extending the life of the product, while reducing waste.

Low VOC

Reductions of volatile organic compound (VOC) and greenhouse gas emissions go hand in hand with UV and EB technologies. UV and EB coatings, inks and adhesives typically contain little or no volatile solvents. Solvent emissions (VOCs) may become tropospheric (ground-level) ozone precursors, estimated by the EPA as the third largest contributor to climate change. Moreover, attempts to eliminate VOCs by incineration may generate greenhouse gasses from the combustion of the fuel used by the devices.

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Carbon Reduction

Carbon Reduction is the number one measure to help combat climate change. By eliminating both the use of natural gas and the oxidation of a solvent, UV and EB can reduce a facility’s Scope 1 carbon footprint. Another major area in which UV and EB can reduce a carbon footprint is by reducing the use of electricity contributing to Scope 2 emissions. We plan to capture more data on this topic to truly highlight the benefits of UV and EB technologies.

More Information »

Compostability

One of the main focuses of sustainability is circularity. The RadTech sustainability committee is actively working with certifying and testing facilities to determine whether UV and EB technology are not only compatible with the composting process but also complementary.

Recyclability

Plastic pollution continues to affect our water, land and even our bodies. Now more than ever capturing and reusing plastics is critical to global sustainability efforts. RadTech has committed to two separate recyclability studies focusing specifically on plastics. One working with academia and the other working with a private lab recognized by the APR. We hope to have a holistic picture of next steps for ensuring easy or recyclability at all levels of infrastructure. There are also a number of initiatives that have already addressed the recyclability of UV+EB materials.

BioBased Materials

UV and EB raw materials and formulated products can be made using bio-based materials to reduce the carbon footprint of a product and add to the overall sustainability and circularity of your manufacturing process. Banana leaves, soy, and other bio-based materials have been used as the building blocks of UV and EB formulations and more materials are being developed.

Reduced Footprint

If your existing finishing line is the size of a football field, using UV+EB technology can help reduce it to a fraction of the footprint by replacing ovens and other carbon producing technologies that take up space and time.

New Sustainability Site Launched by RadTech

Please visit the new RadTech Sustainability website, a completely revised and streamlined way to quickly navigate RadTech’s sustainability mission. The new site highlights how our technology is helping to shape manufacturing’s sustainable future. Sections include:

  • List of sustainable advantages of UV/EB/LED technology
  • The latest news on UV/EB/LED and sustainability
  • Sustainability news

The site will continue to grow with updates and an added UV/EB/LED Green Buyers Guide featuring end users of our technology. Please let us know what you think!!

Sustainability Committee Updates

The RadTech’s Sustainability Committee is developing data to understand how UV/EB/LED technology fits with circular economy models. Currently, two recyclability studies are underway and the committee has also gained RadTech Board approval for a composability study that is now under development.

The RadTech Sustainability committee is also excited to announce two new co-chairs of the sustainability committee: Andrew Mitchell, Senior Research Engineer at Printpack and Corey Lewis, Manager, Global Print Production at The Pokémon Company International. RadTech thanks Todd Fayne of Pepsico and David Biro from Sun Chemical for doing stellar work helping move RadTech forward toward a more sustainable future. They will be missed as the sustainability committee leaders. If you would like to join the sustainability committee please email cara@radtech.org.

4Evergreen 2022 Guidance Marks UV/EB/LED as Compatible for Recycling!

4evergreen is a cross-industry alliance of over 100 members representing the entire lifecycle of fiber-based packaging – from forests to designers, producers, brand owners and recyclers. 4evergreen has released their 2022 Guidance and has stated UV/EB/LED is considered fully compatible with standard recycling processes. This is exciting news for the industry.

With so many misconceptions around UV+EB  technology it is great to see guidance from this cross-functional alliance debunking a misconception on recyclability.  For the full 4evergreen guideline please see this link. For a fun video about 4evergreen click Here!

FTC Seeks Comments on Sustainability and Recyclability in Green Guides

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is soliciting public comments on its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims —comments are due on April 24, 2023. The Commission is soliciting comments about “the efficiency, costs, benefits, and regulatory impact of the Guides to determine whether to retain, modify, or rescind them”. According to the FTC, the Green Guides outline general principles applicable to all environmental marketing claims, and provide specific guidance regarding many common environmental benefit claims. For each claim covered, the Guides: (1) explain how reasonable consumers likely interpret it; (2) describe the basic elements necessary to substantiate it; and (3) present options for qualifications to avoid deception.

The FTC has specifically called out compostability and recyclability as areas of interest

The Guides currently advise marketers claiming products are “compostable” in municipal or institutional facilities that they should qualify such claims if appropriate facilities are not available to a substantial majority of consumers or communities where the item is sold. The FTC is considering revising this guidance to define “substantial majority” consistent with the “recyclable” section. The guidance on “recyclable” claims may also be revised. Please find additional details.

Sustainability Sessions and Meeting Held at BIG IDEAS!

In March at the Big Ideas Conference in San Diego, RadTech hosted two great Panels: “BIG IDEAS for Food & Beverage Start-Ups” and “The Future of Sustainable Packaging.” Panelists included AJ Buran, Go Pak; Nick DiBlasi, JUNO DTS; Kelly Williams, Elevate Packaging; Martha Marrapese, Wiley Rein LLP; Nikola M. Juhasz, Sun Chemical Corporation; Stuart MacDonald, Houston Poly; and Adam Peek, People of Packaging Podcast.

A range of topics were discussed, such as the advantages small businesses have over larger companies when it comes to implementing changes and where consumer responsibility lies when it comes to how they dispose of waste. It was exciting to see packaging experts look at how packaging can continue to evolve to become more sustainable.

EPA Launches New Grant Opportunities

RadTech members who either work for or with a public university are eligible for grant funding that may connect with UV/EB/LED.  These Grants are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which President Biden signed in November 2021.

The two grant opportunities are:

  1. Environmental Justice in Communities – Providing P2 technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities
  2. Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products – Providing P2 technical assistance to business to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by increasing the supply, demand and/or use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those that are certified by EPA’s Safer Choice label, or those that conform to EPA’s Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing

Applicants are encouraged to consider partnering with other P2 stakeholders and with community organizations to strengthen their ability to jointly develop and provide P2 technical assistance to businesses and facilitate the development, adoption, and dissemination of P2 solutions. These grants, will not be required to provide matching funds.  For more information:   https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-grant-environmental-justice-communities

Grant Funding in California

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is extending the deadline for Community Air Grant application submission to April 24, 2023.  According to CARB, the Air Grants Program aims “to provide support for community-based organizations to participate in the AB 617 process, and to build capacity to become active partners with government to identify, evaluate, and ultimately reduce air pollution and exposure to harmful emissions in their communities.” Examples of what Community Air Grants are being used to fund include, but is not limited to:

  • Community engagement and outreach related to AB 617
  • Hiring consultants and/or technical experts
  • Travel and logistical support for hosting and/or attending meetings related to AB 617 (i.e., room rental, meeting facilitation, transportation)
  • Support for community operated air monitoring
  • Data collection and analysis, including community based participatory research projects

Additionally, CARB accepts applications on an ongoing basis under the Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Policy which allows community-based projects to be funded from a portion of the penalties received during settlement of enforcement actions. SEPs aim to improve public health, reduce pollution, increase environmental compliance, and bring public awareness to neighborhoods most burdened by environmental harm. CARB has a policy for allowing a SEP to be used in lieu of a portion of a penalty payment to mitigate the effects of a particular violation.

In order to qualify, project proposals must meet all the following criteria:

  • Reduce direct/indirect air emissions or exposure to air pollution (e.g. Diesel PM, NOX, Greenhouse gases, VOCs, etc.)
  • Relate to the violation
  • Not benefit the violator
  • Go above and beyond regulatory requirements
  • Demonstrate that the proposal is technically, economically and legally feasible.

For additional information see the following link:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/supplemental-environmental-projects-sep/about