Evonik Coating Additives is driving circularity in packaging recycling with its innovative new co-binder, TEGO® Res 1100.
- Faster, better recycling: Improves recyclate quality for true circularity
- Deinks at low temperatures: Saves energy and time
- Broad compatibility: Easily integrates into existing solventborne ink formulations without affecting performance
- Food contact compliant: Allows for broad usage including food packaging applications
The industry challenge
The circular economy for plastics is gaining momentum increasing the demand for recyclability. Higher quantities and quality of recycled materials are needed. Ink residues left on printed flexible packaging material after deinking pose a significant challenge for mechanical recycling and adversely impact recyclate quality. Unfortunately, low quality recyclates have limited uses. To achieve high quality recyclates, it is crucial to fully remove printing inks and coatings from packaging waste. Only with high-quality recyclates does full recycling become possible, thereby enabling true circularity.
Our approach
Evonik Coating Additives has therefore developed an innovative co-binder tailored to solvenborne packaging inks TEGO® Res 1100. It allows simple modification of solventborne ink formulations without having to change existing recycling processes.
Our solution
TEGO® Res 1100 is a methacrylate co-polymer developed by Evonik Coating Additives. This free-flowing, non dusting powder can easily be incorporated into solventborne ink formulations and is compatible with various binders and solvents, including alcohols and esters.
Evonik Coating Additives is driving circularity in packaging recycling with its innovative new co-binder, TEGO® Res 1100. This methacrylate co-polymer makes deinking processes of plastic films faster and more efficient. TEGO® Res 1100 can be easily incorporated into standard solventborne ink formulations, offering broad solubility and compatibility with various binders and solvents, including alcohols and esters, all while preserving the high performance of the inks. Adding TEGO® Res 1100 to solventborne packaging inks enables deinking of flexible packaging without requiring any changes to existing equipment.
“We are dedicated to supporting the industry's transition to a circular economy,” says Susanne Struck, Global Head of Market Segment Inks at Evonik Coating Additives. “Our TEGO® Res 1100 enables true recycling rather than downcycling by significantly improving recyclate quality.”
TEGO® Res 1100 works independently of the deinking process itself. “Our testing shows that adding just 3-10% of our TEGO® Res 1100 delivers excellent deinking results, even at temperatures as low as 40°C, with or without surfactants,” explains Dr. Christian Schirrmacher, Project Manager and Head of Applied Technology Inks EMEA. “The possible temperature reduction offers significant energy savings.”
Evonik's Coating Additives business offers a comprehensive portfolio of co-binders for inks, along with a wide range of additives for waterborne, radiation-curable, solventborne, and inkjet printing inks.
Company information
Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2,1 billion in 2024. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable, and sustainable solutions for customers. About 32,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.
About Specialty Additives
The Specialty Additives division combines the businesses of versatile additives and high-performance crosslinkers. They make end products more valuable, more durable, save more energy and simply better. As formulation experts in fast growing markets such as coatings, mobility, infrastructure and consumer goods, Specialty Additives combines a small amount with a big effect. With its 3,500 employees the division generated sales of €3.58 billion in 2024.