Not a buzzword, a responsibility: Nandini Chowdhury on sustainability

According to Nandini Chowdhury of Hubergroup, sustainability is no longer a buzzword—it is a responsibility. While the packaging industry rallies around this mantra, the concept itself remains broad and complex. True sustainability spans redesign, reformulation with bio-based content, compliance with evolving regulations, and an uncompromising focus on consumer safety. At Hubergroup, with its 260-year heritage and strong family spirit, sustainability is deeply embedded in our global strategy for printing and specialty chemicals.

“The urgency is real. As we celebrated Earth Day 2025 with the theme Our Power, Our Planet, the focus sharpened on humanity's overconsumption of the planet's biocapacity — an issue marked annually by the Earth Overshoot Day. In 2025, this day will fall on 5 June, signalling once again that collective action is overdue. As brand owners and consumers alike demand accountability, asking if inks are sustainable, VOC-free, water-based, we, at Hubergroup, are meeting this challenge head-on,” Chowdhury said

She said, adopting eco-friendly inks delivers measurable benefits. These include: 

Environmental gains: VOC emissions are reduced by up to 70% compared to traditional inks. 

Resource efficiency: Water-based systems use 30% less energy, while faster drying UV systems lower waste and improve productivity. 

Health and safety: Free from toxic chemicals, sustainable inks enhance workplace air quality. 

Market advantage: Certifications and compliance build trust with brands and end consumers.

Hubergroup offers a comprehensive range of sustainable solutions tailored to modern packaging needs. These include: 

Algae-based Inks: Derived from carbon-negative algae cells, suitable for flexo and offset. 

Water-based Inks: Utilising water as a carrier, ideal for a range of substrates. 

Soybean and vegetable oil-based inks: Partial replacements for mineral oils, improving eco-friendliness. 

LED UV curable inks: Delivering energy savings and reduced carbon emissions. 

Latex and low-VOC toner inks: Offering stability and safety with minimal emissions.

As packaging increasingly touches sensitive sectors like food, compliance and safety become paramount. Hubergroup adheres to stringent design principles. These include: no health risks, no aroma or taste transfer; no content contamination or shelf-life compromise; and controlled migration through optimised substrates, low-migration inks, and rigorous equipment cleanliness.

“Our commitment is backed by compliance with global regulations including Swiss Ordinance, EuPIA guidelines, and the upcoming stricter German Ordinance set for January 2026,” Chowdhury said.

She said the company practice exclusion lists, banning CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic) substances and other harmful materials. “Trust is fortified through certifications like cradle-to-cradle (C2C) for material health, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social fairness. Our CQC gold-certified inks for newspapers and carbon footprint reduction measures — down to 1-kg CO₂ per kg of ink — highlight our leadership in sustainable printing,” she added.

Chowdhury reiterated that sustainability is not a solo journey. It demands collective action across the packaging value chain. “Printers must adopt low-migration inks and optimized curing processes. Packers must ensure safe storage and handling. Brands must set clear compliance goals,” she said.

She concluded, “At Hubergroup, we support this transition with sustainable products like mineral oil-free inks, low-migration systems for both offset and UV, water-based inks, and energy-efficient LED curing technologies. Our ambition? To return to a world as clean and vibrant as the skies during the Covid-19 lockdown — clear, green, and full of life.”