Today, Archroma, a world pioneer in specialized chemicals for environmentally friendly solutions, unveiled the NTR Printing System, which will enable the first commercialization of bio-based pigment printing. It helps clothing and textile businesses lessen their environmental impact while creating vibrant black hues on comfortable and long-lasting clothing. It is based on renewable raw materials* and is made for safer chemistry.
A new process called bio-based pigment printing is gaining a lot of attention from companies looking to produce eco-friendly fabrics using pigments sourced from plants and other natural sources. However, color quality and production performance have not proven adequate to sustain commercial-scale production, and bio-based pigments have not yet produced color fastness equal to synthetic pigments.
The first to use renewable feedstock* for pigment dispersion, binder, and fixing agent is Archroma’s NTR Printing System. Most importantly, it guarantees exceptional softness on a variety of textiles and good wet- and dry-rubbing fastness. Additionally, it has exceptional runnability for production efficiency and is appropriate for the majority of application methods, such as printing, coating, and continuous pigment dyeing.
“These characteristics make the new NTR Printing System perfect for knits, where a very soft handfeel is crucial, for the highly competitive denim market, where sustainability, comfort, and durability are important, and for babywear, where both exceptional softness and safety are required.” Joaquin Femat, Director of the Printing Market Segment at Archroma, said.
Another example of innovation within Archroma’s “PLANET CONSCIOUS+” roadmap is this most recent discovery. In order for brands and mills to stand out with solutions that satisfy their business objectives and sustainability targets, we create ground-breaking goods, systems, and technologies with more sustainability characteristics than the market alternatives and improved value,” he added.
In order to guarantee fastness for the pigment black dispersion similar to existing petroleum-based printing systems, Archroma had to design specialized binding and fixing agents for the novel new NTR Printing System, which was the outcome of more than two years of research and development. To lessen dependency on non-renewable petrochemicals, all three printing components are partially based on renewable feedstock. Additionally, Archroma created the new technology to steer clear of formaldehyde and other harmful input streams and contaminants.
The NTR printing system comprises the following highly efficient and robust printing elements:
- PRINTOFIX® BLACK NTR-TF: A non-gelling pigment black with 79% renewable carbon content*, designed for use in textile applications with no impact on fastness levels.
- HELIZARIN® NTR-SS: A formaldehyde-free super-soft binder with 40% renewable carbon content**, designed to ensure very good overall fastness levels.
- LUPRINTOL® FIXING AGENT NTR-HF: A formaldehyde-free fixing agent with 40% renewable carbon content**, designed for high wet fastness in rubbing and laundry.
All three elements are currently being evaluated for compliance with globally accepted standards like bluesign®, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC). The system also supports major industry restricted substances list (RSL) requirements.
“With the launch of the bio-based NTR Printing System, Archroma can now draw on the industry’s most complete portfolio of innovative printing solutions to tailor systems for individual customer needs,” Mr. Femat said. “We remain the global leader in pigment printing, with a history of innovation that includes the first formaldehyde-free pigment printing system, introduced in 2012.”
