best biodegradable printing method for wood?

[WoodenPrinter96]

Hello printplanet members,

i have newly registered her in the forum, because I need your expert opinion.
I am currently studying mechanical engineering and building up a start-up with friends.
Therefore we would like to print pictures on wooden surfaces. The most important requirement is that the wood with the printed image must be completely biodegradable!

Up to now, the printing process with UV drying ink seems to us to be the best way of printing, as it adheres best to wooden surfaces. However, we have had no success in finding biodegradable UV drying inks.

Another process we have come across is sublimation printing. To apply this process to wood, a special polymer coating seems to be necessary. This coating also seems to be poorly biodegradable.

Do you have tips which printing method / ink is best suited for me?

Many thanks for your help & greetings
WoodenPrinter96

 

[tngcas]

I think you might have trouble finding a solution because a big thing in this industry is longevity - especially when it comes to signs outdoors (wood etc) - there isn't a big focus on making your prints easy to disappear after 10 to 20 years.

Having said that, I have a customer who was printing on biodegradable compostable labels from www.purelabels.com You might reach out to them and see if they have a solution that might transfer to wood products.

 

[WoodenPrinter96]

Thank you very much for your answer.
From company spring-coating I have found Direct food contact inks. This seems to be a safe, non-toxic ink.

Would it be possible to print with this ink on wood by sublimation printing?

I would then assume that this direct food contact ink is biodegradable in the environment.

 

[tngcas]

I don't have experience with sublimation printing but I've researched it recently. My understand is that requires sublimation ink and a heat press. The heat press turns the sublimation ink into a gas and transfers it to a surface that can receive it. I'm not sure if wood can receive it or if it has to be coated first. Unless the direct food contact inks is already sublimation ready I would guess no. You'd have to research it more to be sure.

 

[Alois Senefelder]

Hello Wooden,

Try "Silk Screen Printing"


Regards, Alois

 

[msaeger]

Does it need to be color? How about laser engraving. Would latex ink be considered biodegradable? I haven't seen a flatbed that isn't UV but roll fed machines are. How many pieces are you doing? If it's not a lot you could do a transfer. Otherwise like Alois said silkscreen.

 

[kev_24]

silk screen printing may work

 

[WoodenPrinter96]

The product is a single individual product. I therefore think that silk screen printing is not suitable for my low quantities.

Latex ink seems to be an interesting thing. As I have understood it so far, the main advantage of this ink is that it does not emit any substances into the environment. But I assume that the ink will not degrade in the environment, I don't find this in the environmental certifications.

In this white paper I have read that in most applications the small amount of ink does not interfere with substrates that do
biodegrade.

I therefore think it will be the best strategy to find a Ink that is as non-toxic as possible to use on wood.

 

[tngcas]

Just be careful with your advertising then because you can get in legal hot water if you advertise something as "biodegradable" and it's not really.
Also note that food safe contact inks are not the same thing as biodegradable, it just means that it's non-toxic if accidently consumed which makes it food safe if it accidentally comes into contact with the food.

 

[msaeger]

The product is a single individual product. I therefore think that silk screen printing is not suitable for my low quantities.

Latex ink seems to be an interesting thing. As I have understood it so far, the main advantage of this ink is that it does not emit any substances into the environment. But I assume that the ink will not degrade in the environment, I don't find this in the environmental certifications.

In this white paper I have read that in most applications the small amount of ink does not interfere with substrates that do
biodegrade.

I therefore think it will be the best strategy to find a Ink that is as non-toxic as possible to use on wood.

Is your product full color, single color? How many? If it's only a few I have seen people print on transfer paper then transfer the image to wood.