What Is Soy Ink Packaging and Can It Help Preserve the Environment?

Last Updated on July 28, 2025 by Packoi Team

Why is soy-based ink less harmful? How is it made? Is it 100% toxin-free? The following is a comprehensive guide to the manufacture of soy ink and its advantages as a superior alternative to petroleum-based inks.

What Is Soy Ink Packaging?

Packaging that utilizes soy ink for printing is referred to as soy ink packaging.

Now, what is soy ink?

Introduced to the market as a result of the petroleum crisis in the 1970s by a newspaper company, soy ink is now playing a crucial role in making the printing industry more environmentally friendly. In the manufacturing process, soy oil is used as a substitute for petroleum-based ink. The soy-based inks are four times more biodegradable than petroleum-based inks.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted by petroleum-based inks are less than 20% in soy ink when printing. Additionally, soy-based ink minimizes hazardous air pollution (HAC) emissions. You can reduce the environmental impact of your printing press by replacing traditional petroleum-based inks with soy-based inks.

How Is Soy Ink Made?

If the concentration of soy oil in an ink reaches 20%, soy ink is formed. Soy-based inks produce less harmful organic chemical emissions than petroleum-based inks.

Soy ink is manufactured by processing soybeans into oil. This oil is then cooked, refined, and blended with the resins, pigment, and waxes. Although these main steps are common, the product quantities can vary between different manufacturers.

6 Major Benefits of Using Soy Ink Packaging

Here are the six main benefits that you get by replacing petroleum-based ink with soy-based ink.

1. Renewable Resource

Soy-based ink is made from soybeans, a renewable resource that can be grown indefinitely. Soybeans provide a never-ending supply of plant feedstock, which is then used as fuel and for many other products.

2. Heat Resistant

The soy ink on your packaging will have more thermal resistance than petroleum-based ink because soy ink has a lower boiling point. 

3. Brighter Colors

If you print with soy-based ink, the printed picture will have brighter colors and more precise definitions. This is because the lucid nature of soy-based ink allows the ink pigments to be the brightest.

4. Economic

The use of soy inks will prove to be more economical than metallic inks, as they produce clear and bright images effortlessly. Soy inks will get the work done with minimum resources.

5. Stability

Using soy-based ink for your printing saves time, as you do not have to adjust the ink at every step of the process. This is because soy inks are much more stable than petroleum inks.

6. Eco-Friendly

Although soy ink is not 100% eco-friendly (as declared by the Environmental Conservation Board), it is still better than petro-based inks because it releases fewer amounts of VOCs into the air. Moreover, soybean plants absorb carbon from the environment during growth, so shifting to soy ink reduces the carbon footprint.

Can You Place Soy Inks in Direct Contact with Edible Items?

The answer is no! Although soy inks are environmentally friendly in some ways, they are not 100% free from toxins. Some soy inks contain petroleum-based substances to allow the ink to dry faster, which can be toxic to the human body. However, the printed cards found within the cereal boxes are made from pure soy ink and are FDA-approved. 

Myths about Soy Ink

Here are some myths related to soy-based ink that you might still believe to this date

1. Soy-Based Ink is Purely Made Up of Soy 

Soy oil contributes only 20% to the mass of soy ink. Here, the author refutes a common misconception about how soy ink is made. The other components that contribute to the mass of soy ink are resins, pigments, waxes, solvents, reducers, additives, driers, and film formers, which are toxic substances. 

2. Soy Ink is 100% Environmentally Friendly

Soy and vegetable inks are a better and safer alternative to petro-based inks, but they are not entirely environmentally friendly due to the presence of some harmful additives. EPA does not label soy inks as “non-VOC.” Additionally, the equipment used for soybean processing relies on diesel, petroleum, and electricity, which results in environmental pollution. Even if all the components are made from organic materials, such as organic resins and waxes, we can only mitigate the negative impact they typically have on the environment.

Why Choose Packoi for Your Packaging Needs?

Looking for a sustainable packaging manufacturer to match the theme of your product?

You landed on the right page. At Packoi, we understand the importance of ecosystem perseverance. We use eco-friendly inks for your package printing, which have minimal environmental impact. With our vast range of custom packaging and printing solutions, our team will bring your design to life exactly as you envision it, making your experience with us one to remember.

We will stand by your side every step of the way throughout the manufacturing process. Contact us now for an immaculate brand packaging manufacturing experience.