Asahi Kasei Corp., headquartered in Tokyo and the parent company of Asahi Photoproducts, has made an impactful announcement today. Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd., also based in Tokyo, has chosen to transition to AWP™ water-washable flexographic plates for printing beverage labels on their 550 ml PET bottles in Japan. This marks the first time AWP™ plates have been used for label printing in the Japanese beverage industry. Working in collaboration with Fuji Seal, Inc., Asahi Kasei has introduced this innovative flexo printing technology, which is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 30% compared to previous plate technology.
Flexographic printing is a globally utilized method, with current practices mainly relying on solvent-washable plates that require organic solvent-based washing solutions. Asahi Kasei offers water-washable plates that utilize water-based washing solutions, enhancing environmental friendliness. Suntory Beverage & Food has now incorporated AWP™ water-washable plates at its Suntory Kyushu Kumamoto Plant, replacing solvent-washable plates previously used.
Aligned with Asahi Kasei’s Group Mission of enhancing life and living globally, the company will drive the adoption of AWP™ water-washable plates to replace solvent-washable plates in beverage label applications. This transition aims to reduce the environmental impact of printing, contributing to the progress towards a sustainable society.
For comprehensive information on environment-friendly products and services by Asahi Kasei and its subsidiary Asahi Photoproducts, specifically in food and drink packaging and sustainable packaging, please visit www.asahi-photoproducts.com
