The CHT Group has launched the first compostable pigment printing system. The novel developed system is an innovative compostable textile printing system which is a part of a ‘Biodegradable Textiles’ pilot project. The new Eco print range is a water-based printing paste that contributes to textile products reaching the Cradle to Cradle® Platinum standard.
Within this range, the pigments and auxiliaries have a Platinum Material Health Certificate from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute with the certification number 4323 (Ecoprint by CHT).
What is Cradle to Cradle® Platinum Standard?
Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) is a systemic approach, developed by Professor Michael Braungart and William McDonough, to product design. It aims to create healthy and safe products for humans and the environment in all phases: production, use, and after use. Within the C2C concept, products are developed according to the principles of an ideal circular economy. It is about eco-effectiveness and goes beyond conventional sustainability tools and approaches, which primarily show humans’ negative influence on the environment. The C2C also follows the Triple Top Line as its basic approach, and its implementation creates equal economic, social, and ecological benefits.
The ecoprint range by CHT offers various benefits over conventional printing pastes. The primary advantages include:
Biodegradability. The ecoprint range is biodegradably favoring the reduction of carbon footprints. The company has checked its ecoprint range using DIN EN ISO 14855-1 standard. According to this Standard, plastic materials’ ultimate aerobic biodegradability is determined under controlled composting conditions by measuring organic carbon’s evolution to carbon dioxide. The ecoprint range resulted in promising results. The characterized products showed that 77 % of the total organic carbon was converted to carbon dioxide within six months.
A wide gamut of colors to choose from
The ecoprint range includes nine colors to choose for your printing formulation. Therefore, the color gamut is complete, and the required shade matching could be performed easily.
Recipe Calculation Program
The CHT Group has also provided a recipe calculation program for a straightforward calculation of the print recipe based on single components and needed auxiliaries.
Material Health optimization strategy
The CHT has planned and developed to phase out x assessed chemicals and assess GREY content.
No exposure from toxicants
Assessed materials do not contain carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxicants with plausible exposure routes.
Meets VOC emissions requirements
The product meets the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions testing requirements described in the Standard.
Special Instructions
CHT’s ecoprint is specially developed to reach an outstanding biodegradability that was impossible to reach with a standard pigment print. Therefore, it is not possible to add a fixing agent to improve fastness. With the addition of any fixing agent, the degradability is lost somehow. Hence, to achieve optimal fastness levels, it is mandatory to follow the fixing guidelines. Thus, CHT recommends that fixation at 160 °C for a minimum of 3 min should be adopted for the best fastness.
CHT’s Commitment to Sustainability
The CHT Group has significant experience and in-depth knowledge of all processes along the complete textile value chain. As an innovative partner of the textile industry, we are working continuously on the ideas and solutions of tomorrow, especially solutions for a beneficial environmental impact.
The CHT Group also Ensures long term sustainable prosperity, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).
