Do You Know About Environmental Standards for Children’s Book Printing?

The children’s book market in China has been thriving, thanks to the growing emphasis on reading among parents and the increasing number of parents who prioritize their children’s reading habits. During online sales events, the sales data for children’s books is consistently impressive. Simultaneously, parents are raising their expectations regarding the quality and environmental impact of children’s book printing, especially in terms of safety and eco-friendliness. Many publishing organizations have begun labeling children’s books with phrases like “Eco-friendly Printing” and “Printed with Soy-based Ink.”

How much do you know about the professional environmental standards for children’s book printing? In this article, we will introduce you to relevant knowledge provided by Sinhan Printing Factory. While some of the terminology may be technical, the issue of environmental friendliness in children’s books is something every parent concerned about their child’s well-being should be aware of. We hope to raise awareness through this discussion.

Many parents nowadays pay significant attention to cultivating their children’s reading habits. They often provide their children with various printed materials like cards, picture books, and regular books. However, neglecting the quality of these printed products during the selection process can potentially have negative effects on children’s health.

So, what kinds of printed materials can have adverse effects? Let’s talk about environmental concerns. The quality of printed materials should not be confused with their environmental impact. Print quality refers to legibility, clear lines, and accurate color reproduction. Environmental impact, on the other hand, means that the act of reading the material should not pose health risks to the reader.

Children’s books are emphasized here because children, especially young ones, are more likely to engage in behaviors like tearing or biting books while reading. Additionally, many children’s reading materials contain numerous color illustrations, which require more ink than text-based books. Therefore, children’s books should have higher environmental standards compared to regular books.

To address this, let’s analyze the main materials used in children’s book printing: paper, ink, glue, and lamination.

Inks may contain benzene, especially in colored inks that use solvents like benzene. When newly printed books are not given sufficient time for the solvents to evaporate, they emit unpleasant odors when opened. Benzene and toluene are highly toxic, damaging the respiratory system, causing acute poisoning, central nervous system paralysis, and more. Short-term exposure can lead to dizziness and nausea, while prolonged contact can harm bone marrow, leading to decreased white blood cells and platelets, as well as aplastic anemia.

Another source of irritating odors is the adhesive used for binding. Many bookbinding glues use quick-drying agents that can take 10 to 20 days to fully dissipate. When books are sealed in packaging, the odor lingers, affecting readers even after purchase. Additionally, some low-quality paper and adhesives contain high levels of formaldehyde, emitting strong odors that can seriously affect children’s health and development.

Due to children’s different reading habits, they are more likely to come into contact with heavy metals, such as lead, which may be present in subpar inks and paper through hand-to-mouth contact. It’s essential to note that counterfeit books, in an effort to reduce costs, often use inferior paper, ink, and adhesive. A solid material testing report showed that some counterfeit books have lead levels 100 times higher than their legitimate counterparts. Therefore, parents must be vigilant when selecting books for their children, especially to identify counterfeit versions.

Even for legitimate books, it’s crucial to limit harmful components in printing materials through environmental standards.

On September 14, 2010, the former National Press and Publication Administration and the Ministry of Environmental Protection signed the “Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Implementing Green Printing.” It focuses on strict control of heavy metal residues and volatile organic compound pollution in paper, ink, and hot-melt adhesive.

On October 8, 2011, the State Press and Publication Administration and the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued the “Announcement on Implementing Green Printing.” This document provides guidance on the ideological foundation, scope, objectives, organizational management, green printing standards, green printing certification, work arrangements, and supporting measures for implementing green printing, comprehensively deploying green printing implementation.

On April 6, 2012, the State Press and Publication Administration released the “Notice on Implementing Green Printing for Primary and Secondary School Textbooks,” which requires that primary and secondary school textbooks be printed by enterprises certified with the Green Printing Environmental Label. The goal was to ensure that, starting from the fall semester of 2012, 30% of local primary and secondary school textbooks used in each region should be green-printed. By 2014, the State Administration of Press and Publication announced the achievement of full coverage of green printing for primary and secondary school textbooks nationwide.

“Technical Requirements for Environmental Labeling Products – Offset Inks” is applicable to offset inks other than radiation-cured inks. It references environmental labeling standards from countries such as Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand while considering the current technology and environmental characteristics of offset ink production in China. The standard imposes control requirements on benzene solvents, heavy metals, volatile compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, and plant oils in offset inks. It also provides regulations for the safe use of products, aiming to reduce the environmental and health impact of offset inks in production, use, and disposal processes, improve environmental quality, and promote the production and use of low-toxicity, low-volatile products.

Now, let’s discuss eco-friendly ink types:

1. Rice Bran Ink: Rice bran ink technology, originating from Japan, has gained popularity in China due to its sustainable approach. It utilizes rice bran oil, a byproduct of rice milling, as a primary component. This ink boasts low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) residue and migration, minimizing environmental pollution. Rice bran resources are easily localized, aligning with China’s national conditions. Rice bran ink offers high gloss, minimal harmful residue in printed materials, and high safety.
2. Soy-based Ink: Soy-based ink replaces some of the mineral oils in traditional inks with soybean oil, lightly purified. It is blended with pigments, resins, and additives. Soy-based ink has several advantages, including resistance to smudging, no irritating odors, light and heat resistance, ease of recycling, and a wide range of colors. Besides soybean oil, other plant oils like linseed oil can also be used.
3. Water-based Ink: Water-based inks do not contain volatile organic solvents and only require water for dilution during printing. Consequently, they significantly reduce VOC emissions and the residual hazardous substances on printed products. Water-based inks are among the most environmentally friendly ink types. They also reduce the risk of fires due to static electricity and flammable solvents, as well as minimize solvent odors on printed materials. Therefore, water-based inks are increasingly used in fields like food packaging, children’s toy packaging, and tobacco packaging.

Finally, let’s discuss the lamination process. Lamination is a finishing technique widely used in the printing and packaging industry. However, many lamination processes still use coating techniques, which can pose significant harm to both the environment and human health. During coating lamination, large quantities of solvents containing benzene are used. Benzene is a potent carcinogen. Many printed and packaged products, such as textbook covers, are laminated using this technique, posing a substantial risk to children, in particular. According to a study by the American Cancer Society, children exposed to benzene-containing products over a prolonged period are more prone to developing blood-related diseases like leukemia. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid laminating children’s books whenever possible.

Sinhan Printing Factory is a professional manufacturer of children’s books, founded in 2014. With a factory area of over 20,000 square meters, our company is committed to high-quality printing and focuses on the research and development of educational children’s books. Over the past decade, we have established an ERP management system tailored to our operations and implemented standardized and data-driven color management based on ISO12647-2. In 2016, we upgraded our printing equipment to the latest Heidelberg 4-color, 5-color+1, and 6-color+1 printing machines. We also invested in state-of-the-art Kodak CTP fully automatic publishing equipment, ensuring high-fidelity printing technology that meets global color standards and consistent color reproduction for each work.

Sinhan Printing Factory has introduced advanced post-processing equipment and developed or adapted production equipment suitable for children’s board books, achieving fully automated and efficient digital production management. Our team comprises professional technicians and an excellent management team, committed to serving our customers with high-quality standards. We welcome visitors to Star Horizon to explore our facilities, provide guidance, and discuss potential collaborations.

In conclusion, as parents and consumers, it is crucial to be informed about the environmental standards and the choice of eco-friendly materials in children’s book printing. By supporting responsible publishers like Star Horizon Printing Factory and making informed choices, we can contribute to a healthier and safer reading environment for our children.