CASE STUDIES
Discover how Only Imaging provides professional TTR solutions to global partners.
The Challenge of Barcoding on Compostable & Recycled Packaging
The global packaging industry is undergoing a massive green transformation. Major consumer brands and enterprise logistics companies are phasing out virgin plastics in favor of sustainable alternatives, such as rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate) and fully compostable PLA (Polylactic Acid) films.
While this shift is critical for corporate sustainability targets, it presents a significant hurdle for packaging engineers. Traceability barcodes, lot numbers, and expiration dates must still be printed on these new materials.
The harsh reality is that standard thermal transfer ribbons often fail entirely when applied to next-generation eco-plastics.
The Surface Energy Problem
Thermal transfer printing relies on chemistry. For the ink to bond permanently to a substrate, the surface energy of the packaging material must be compatible with the polymer matrix of the melted ink.
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Recycled Plastics (rPET): The recycling process often alters the surface smoothness and energy of the plastic, making it difficult for standard wax/resin binders to grip the material. The ink tends to sit on top of the film, easily scratching off during transit.
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Compostable Films (PLA): Plant-based plastics have drastically different chemical compositions compared to traditional petroleum-based films. Standard industrial resins simply repel from the surface, leading to faint, unreadable barcodes or complete ink flaking.
The Compliance Dilemma
You cannot solve this problem by using highly aggressive, solvent-heavy industrial inks. If a brand switches to a 100% compostable PLA film, printing a toxic, heavy-metal-laden barcode on it instantly violates the compostability certification of the packaging.
The Only Imaging Eco-Bond Solution
To bridge the gap between sustainability and traceability, Only Imaging’s R&D division developed the Eco-Bond Series.
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Formulated for Low Surface Energy: The Eco-Bond Wax/Resin and Resin matrices are chemically engineered to anchor aggressively into the unique molecular structures of both rPET and plant-based PLA films.
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Scratch & Smear Resistance: The formulation delivers sharp edge definition and extreme durability, ensuring barcodes remain scannable from the production line to the retail shelf, regardless of the sustainable substrate.
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Clean Chemistry: The Eco-Bond series is manufactured using solvent-free or low-VOC processes and is formulated without restricted heavy metals or toxic plasticizers, ensuring your packaging remains fully compliant with global environmental directives.
Conclusion: Upgrade Your Chemistry
If you are upgrading your packaging materials to meet modern sustainability goals, you must also upgrade your printing chemistry.
ONLY IMAGING is a leading supplier of labels, printing equipment and associate consumables, including TTR products in various widths and lengths. Please take the opportunity to learn more about our range of high-quality thermal transfer ribbons and explore our other products for any further questions you may have click Here.
