Environment

Fujifilm has had over 50 products from three of its Sericol screen-printing textile ink ranges approved by the Soil Association for use in organic textile processing.

The company is the first to have products approved under the organisation's new Approved Inputs for Textiles Scheme, which has been set up to help organic textile and garment manufacturers source low-impact textile processing chemicals.

Soil Association Certification textile specialist Georgina Thomas said: "These inks meet strict criteria on toxicity and biodegradability according to GOTS, the international gold standard for organic textile processing."

The products approved are from three of the Sericol screen printing textile ink ranges and include: Texiscreen Aqua AJ, a water-based ink for direct printing, Texcharge TC, a water-based discharge ink for printing dark garments and Pioneer Ultra YC, an opaque PVC-free and phthalate-free plastisol ink for printing line and process colours together with a range of special effects including high build, puff and suede.

Fujifilm said that it had undertaken an extensive research and development programme focused on developing inks with performance characteristics that meet the Soil Association Certifications guidelines. The research involved balancing print performance characteristics with the toxicological and ecological requirements that were necessary to meet the approval criteria.

Earlier Fujifilm unveiled a raft of price increases for its Sericol and Uvivid ink ranges, along with its associated screen emulsions and chemicals, with effect from September this year.