HP ploughs $200m into water-based ink technologies

HP has committed $200m over five or more years to develop water-based ink technologies for printing digitally on corrugated packaging and textiles as part of its commitment to help create more sustainable digital print solutions.

The World Resources Institute estimates that about 20% of industrial water pollution comes from garment manufacturing. Santi Morera, general manager and global head of graphics solutions, HP, said: “Investing in water-based solutions that meet market needs and the increasing sustainability requirements of graphics customers is expected to propel business growth for HP. We will be dedicating resources toward continued innovation and industry disruption to accelerate safer, simpler and more sustainable water-based printing technologies that meet the quality, performance and economics needed by these markets.” This new trance of investment builds on HP’s existing innovation in water-based ink technology - such as for the sign and display market using its water-based HP Latex inks. HP believes that investing in water-based ink solutions for the corrugate and textile printing markets will have beneficial effects along the entire product lifecycle, for the people who operate our printing systems, for the end users of the printed product, and ultimately for the final reuse, recycling, or disposal of that product.