The Joy of Soy

There are a lot of discussions to be had when it cones to that most versatile and useful of plants soy but today I’m thinking about soy inks. It's because I’m thinking about packaging and how combined with sustainable or recyclable packaging, soy inks can have a major effect on the carbon footprint of large manufacturers and set the tone for a future filled with responsible corporate choices.

Soy ink is a healthy alternative to traditional synthetic chemical based inks that made for unsatisfactory working conditions and adding to a company’s carbon footprint. During the growing process soy plant help eliminate carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and in most cases require no irrigation. This means more oxygen, less water and less energy. Soy is a sustainable product low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that grows easily and abundantly.

Soy ink is a plant based ink that reduces damage to paper during de inking processes, creates a brighter look to packaging finishes and acts as the perfect compliment to recycled paper packaging. I used to think soy inks would come off in my hand, stain my skin and disintegrate before my eyes. I’m not sure where this idea came from but I definitely thought they were unstable and unsustainable. It’s good to be wrong sometimes.

In fact, soy ink doesn’t rub off as easily as traditional inks making it perfect for printing newspapers. The waste from soy ink is not hazardous and doesn’t harm the environment. The soy ink is highly heat resistant and causes less damage to printing and copying machines than traditional inks, lengthening the life of printing equipment. Perhaps most important is the brilliance of the soy ink pigment and the ability to create amazing color palettes that compliment the written word.


Soy is proving to be a core component of a greener world. It is easy to grow and cheap to produce, saving money and reducing carbon emissions in the manufacturing process.

Now I’m starting to understand this whole happy happy soy thing.