DIC Commences Global Rollout of ECOVART™, a Low Solvent–Content Gravure Ink that Helps Improve Productivity ―A gravure ink that mitigates procurement risks associated with naphtha-derived solvents for packaging printing companies―

Tokyo, Japan—DIC Corporation announced today that it will commence the global rollout of gravure ink ECOVART^™, which requires the addition of significantly less solvent than conventional gravure inks, focusing on Japan, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Southeast Asia. This low-solvent offering helps decrease the volume of naphtha-derived solvents used by packaging materials printing companies, while at the same time alleviating related procurement risks. In addition to boosting productivity in printing by minimizing the need for solvent dilution and viscosity adjustment during printing, ECOVART will contribute to lower emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

ECOVART will be showcased for the first time at DIC’s booth at the Tokyo International Packaging Exhibition 2026 (TOKYO PACK 2026) as a new solution supporting sustainable and reliable package printing. Following its introduction in Japan, DIC plans to expand sales in the PRC and Southeast Asia.

In recent years, reducing environmental impact by cutting VOC emissions and ensuring stable supplies of raw materials has become a critical management challenge for packaging materials printing companies. In 2026, the supply of naphtha-derived solvents has also emerged as a key concern, owing to the current crisis in the Middle East, which has also bolstered awareness among packaging manufacturers of the vital significance of stable raw materials procurement and stronger supply chain resilience. Of particular note, against a backdrop of geopolitical risks and shifting raw materials market conditions, there is increased recognition of the importance of securing supplies of naphtha-derived solvents and countering the impact of price swings.

With gravure inks, which are used extensively for printed packaging, viscosity is generally adjusted through dilution with solvents during the printing process. Accordingly, fluctuations in the availability and prices of solvents directly impact printing processes. Stricter environmental regulations and customers’ efforts to achieve sustainability targets have also increased the urgency of curbing VOC emissions.

In response to such challenges, DIC leveraged its proprietary resins to develop ECOVART with the objective of minimizing the use of solvents in printing. Since its launch in India in 2022, ECOVART has continued to achieve steady growth in sales volume. Going forward, the Company will capitalize on the experience and expertise it has cultivated in the Indian market to facilitate the global rollout of ECOVART, beginning with Japan, and with a particular emphasis on the PRC, which has stringent restrictions on solvent use, and Southeast Asia, which is expected to enjoy ongoing, robust market growth.

Product Overview
ECOVART is a gravure ink developed with the objective of reducing solvent use in printing. Because it is compatible with existing gravure printing equipment, ECOVART delivers environmental compliance and improved productivity without requiring significant capital investment.

Advantage #1: Enhances productivity as a press-ready ink
ECOVART is supplied as a press-ready ink, i.e., it is preadjusted to the appropriate viscosity for printing. This minimizes the need to dilute with solvents to adjust viscosity, which is essential with conventional gravure inks, thereby shortening process times, easing operator workloads and reducing solvent purchase volumes. This, in turn, simplifies solvent inventory management and allows more efficient use of storage space, as well as reducing the work of procuring solvents and the risks posed by solvent price fluctuations.

Advantage #2: Contributes to the achievement of sustainable printing processes
ECOVART helps cut VOC emissions by decreasing the amount of solvent used in the printing processes. Testing by DIC has confirmed that use of this ink facilitates a decrease in solvent use by at least 50%.^*1 In addition to helping customers meet their environmental goals and implement effective sustainability initiatives, it proactively addresses the future tightening of environmental regulations. This ink is also suitable for solvent recovery^*2 and is thus expected to be adopted in initiatives aimed at further ameliorating environmental impact.

Advantage #3: Supports both resource conservation and print quality
A high-solids ink,^*3 ECOVART decreases the amount of solvent contained in the ink itself. It has a higher color density than conventional gravure inks, thereby attaining the required color density with less ink. This makes it possible to maintain the superior print qualities for which gravure ink is renowned, while simultaneously helping conserve resources.

The DIC Group works to provide packaging solutions that contribute to a sustainable society. Looking ahead, DIC will step up the expansion of sales of ECOVART in global markets with the aim of helping lower solvent use and VOC emissions in the printing process. By providing solutions that balance reduced environmental impact with improved productivity, the Company will continue striving to advance the evolution of a sustainable packaging materials printing industry and the realization of a circular economy.

^*1 This is an estimated figure based on the results of verification testing conducted under in-house test conditions and does not constitute a guarantee of actual results. Actual results may vary depending on the equipment used, printing conditions, substrates and other factors.
^*2 In printing, solvent recovery technologies are used to capture spent solvent vapors from printing processes, recycling them into reusable solvents.
^*3 High-solids gravure inks have a higher proportion of solids (non-solvent components such as resins and pigments) than their conventional counterparts.

TOKYO PACK 2026 details
Name: Tokyo International Packaging Exhibition 2026 (TOKYO PACK 2026)
Date and time: October 14–16, 2026, 10:00–17:00
Venue: TOKYO BIG SIGHT (Tokyo International Exhibition Center), East Exhibition Halls 1–3, 7 and 8
Organizer: Japan Packaging Institute
DIC’s booth: East Exhibition Hall 2, Booth 2R04
Official website:https://www.tokyo-pack.jp/

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