EcoSynthetix Inc. Presents A New Way To "Green" Your Magazine

[Jeff van Leeuwen]

Latex coatings provide a valuable aesthetic that enhances the gloss and printability of magazine paper; unfortunately, their financial and environmental costs can be great. In response to these problems, EcoSynthetix Inc. has developed a sustainable option for paper coatings, available at a lower price than the current petroleum based technology.

Until now, the main industry option for paper coating binders is a petroleum based chemical called styrene butadiene latex. SB latex is an effective coating binder, but environmental issues arise when SB coated paper is recycled. Excess SB latex coating sticks to equipment during the recycling process, which can lead to reduced paper quality (Edelmann, p15). Machines must be cleaned regularly to clear this residue, which ultimately leads to higher maintenance costs. After SB latex has been removed from the cellulose fiber during paper recycling, it is sent to landfills where it has been found to persist in the soil for up to two years after being dumped. Moreover, styrene is toxic, and has been shown to be an active generator of photochemical smog when released into the atmosphere (Spectrum).

EcoSynthetix Inc. is proud to introduce the paper industry’s first environmentally friendly coating binder alternative. EcoSphere® is a new bio-based coating binder that performs similarly to a petroleum based latex binder. It is derived from 100% renewable feedstock, is completely biodegradable, and can bring a permanent environmental benefit to the coated paper industry.

In contrast to SB latex coatings, EcoSphere® biolatex™ binder does not need to be removed from the waste water, and can be re-incorporated with the recycled paper fiber. Additionally, it will not accumulate on equipment during the recycling process. Most importantly, EcoSphere® biolatex™ binder will not cause any negative environmental impact when disposed.

EcoSphere® biolatex™ binder can replace SB latex on a one for one basis in the manufacturing process with no equipment modification required. This makes the switch to EcoSphere® straightforward and cost-effective for the paper mills.

In performance, EcoSphere® biolatex™ binder is comparable to SB latex in most aspects such as gloss, opacity, and brightness; and it is superior in stiffness and binder strength. Due to its superior stiffness qualities, EcoSphere® further benefits the paper industry and recycling process by enabling recycled paper, which contains shorter fibers, to maintain paper stiffness and thereby improve quality and durability. This increases the amount of post consumer content that can be reused to make new paper each time.

An additional carbon footprint advantage of EcoSphere® biolatex™ binder is that it can be shipped as a dry product, whereas SB Latex must be shipped as a liquid dispersion with 50% water. This leads to substantial weight and fuel savings in transportation to the mills. Even without this logistical savings, for every one million pounds of SB latex that is replaced by EcoSphere® there is a carbon emissions reduction equivalent to removing four thousand cars from the road for a year.

For any magazine that is interested in using EcoSphere® coated paper but not sure how to start, the solution is simple. Begin by asking your printer or paper supplier to re-evaluate the current environmental impact of their coated paper. Next, ask them if they carry EcoSphere® biolatex™ coated paper in their inventory. Several major paper manufacturers are already testing EcoSphere® biolatex™ binder in their coating formulations and your supplier could be one of them.

To ask questions or post comments about EcoSphere® biolatex™, please join our discussion on the Better Production forum.

Sources:
EcoSynthetix Inc. EcoSynthetix, Advanced Polymers from Planet Earth. 2009. 8 May 2009 http://www.ecosynthetix.com.
Edelmann, Kari. "Control of Detrimental Phenomena in Papermaking." Scientific. 2005.
Spectrum Laboratories. Chemical Fact Sheet. 2003. 13 May 2009 http://www.speclab.com/compound/c100425.htm.