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Green innovations in natural paper ink: trends, applications, and future prospects

  • Nicky Rahmana Putra EMAIL logo and Bramantyo Airlangga EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: May 23, 2025
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Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal
From the journal Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal Volume 40 Issue 4

Abstract

Natural inks have emerged as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic inks in the paper printing industry due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity, and sustainability. Derived from renewable sources such as plants, algae, minerals, and fungi, these inks reduce environmental pollution and dependence on petroleum-based materials. This review highlights recent advancements in natural ink extraction, formulation, and application, emphasizing improvements in physical and chemical properties. Studies show natural indicator inks using Lycium ruthenicum anthocyanins achieve a sensitivity of 2178.57 μA mM−1 cm−2 with a rapid response time of 18 s. Cobalt blue pigments derived from dolomite and kaolin tailings demonstrate high color performance (L* = 37.63, a* = 10.68, b* = −54.87) and 94.96 % light absorption efficiency. Packaging papers containing triticale straw fibers reduced color variation (ΔE*) by 20 % after aging and rubbing tests. Plasma treatment and nano-chitosan coatings have improved color depth by up to 214 % and washing durability after 45 cycles. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in enhancing color fastness, water resistance, and scalability. This review outlines future research directions focused on advanced extraction, formulation optimization, and life cycle assessments to promote the industrial application of sustainable natural inks.

Keywords: natural inks; sustainable printing; color fastness; stability; biodegradability
Corresponding author: Nicky Rahmana Putra, Higher College of Technology (HCT), Ruwais, United Arab Emirates, E-mail: ickyrahman1309@gmail.com; and Bramantyo Airlangga, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

We would like thank you to Higher College of Technology (HCT) and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: Nicky Rahmana Putra = Writing Originial Draft, Bramantyo Airlangga = Writing Originial Draft.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: Not applicable.

  5. Conflict of interest: Not applicable.

  6. Research funding: Not funding.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2025-03-11
Accepted: 2025-05-05
Published Online: 2025-05-23
Published in Print: 2025-12-17

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Chemical Pulping
  3. Alkali-extracted spruce bark residues for pulping and making of pulp sheets
  4. Applications of cationic bamboo fibers for the effective reinforcements of secondary fibers
  5. Paper Technology
  6. Improving hydrophobicity and mechanical strength of rice straw paper using chitosan nanoparticles and beeswax coatings
  7. Extended wet pressing at elevated temperature enables enhanced dewatering for tissue and linerboard
  8. Tissue paper from cabbage leaf – waste paper mixtures
  9. Inhibition of hornification in simao pine fibers and recycled paper with different beating degrees by microwave expansion treatment
  10. Preparation of mycelium paper sheets and study on their adsorption properties
  11. Paper Physics
  12. Influence of the hybrid effect on the mechanical properties of pulp molds
  13. Paper Chemistry
  14. Response surface methodology optimization and anti-age properties in paper protection of carboxymethyl cellulose grafted with β –cyclodextrin
  15. Printing
  16. Green innovations in natural paper ink: trends, applications, and future prospects
  17. Packaging
  18. Advanced moisture strategy for expanded formability in paper-based packaging
  19. Production of packaging paper from Populus deltoides NSSC pulp reinforced with rice straw cellulose nanofibrils
  20. Environmental Impact
  21. Treatment of regenerated papermaking wastewater by sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor and kinetics study
https://doi.org/10.1515/npprj-2025-0013
Keywords for this article
natural inks; sustainable printing; color fastness; stability; biodegradability

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Chemical Pulping
  3. Alkali-extracted spruce bark residues for pulping and making of pulp sheets
  4. Applications of cationic bamboo fibers for the effective reinforcements of secondary fibers
  5. Paper Technology
  6. Improving hydrophobicity and mechanical strength of rice straw paper using chitosan nanoparticles and beeswax coatings
  7. Extended wet pressing at elevated temperature enables enhanced dewatering for tissue and linerboard
  8. Tissue paper from cabbage leaf – waste paper mixtures
  9. Inhibition of hornification in simao pine fibers and recycled paper with different beating degrees by microwave expansion treatment
  10. Preparation of mycelium paper sheets and study on their adsorption properties
  11. Paper Physics
  12. Influence of the hybrid effect on the mechanical properties of pulp molds
  13. Paper Chemistry
  14. Response surface methodology optimization and anti-age properties in paper protection of carboxymethyl cellulose grafted with β –cyclodextrin
  15. Printing
  16. Green innovations in natural paper ink: trends, applications, and future prospects
  17. Packaging
  18. Advanced moisture strategy for expanded formability in paper-based packaging
  19. Production of packaging paper from Populus deltoides NSSC pulp reinforced with rice straw cellulose nanofibrils
  20. Environmental Impact
  21. Treatment of regenerated papermaking wastewater by sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor and kinetics study
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