Sun Chemical Launches New Direct Food Contact Inks for Sustainable Packaging

In September 2026, Sun Chemical introduced SunPak DFC inPace, which is a direct food contact (DFC) sheetfed ink, to provide a sustainable and affordable packaging product. The company also expanded its AquaSafe water-based DFC ink portfolio with 9 new base colors. It provides flexibility in terms of design while adhering to food safety regulations in Europe and meeting its sustainability targets.

SunPak DFC inPace is a high-quality sheetfed offset ink system used in folding carton operations. It has been produced at the company’s Badalona Centre of Excellence for food packaging. Specialized DFC manufacturing facilities are beneficial for DFC inks and coatings, as it enables consistency, regulatory compliance, and supply reliability across various regions.

Laws such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) compel manufacturers to develop sustainable packaging solutions. SunPak DFC inPace enables packaging producers to minimize the use of plastic, enhance recycling capabilities, and provide a seamless customer experience without any compromise in performance.

Sun Chemical also added 9 new colors to its AquaSafe water-based DFC ink lineup. These have been developed for direct food contact processes and can be used on paper, paperboard, flexible films, and aluminum foils. This allows packaging manufacturers to minimize the use of plastic without any compromise on food safety and performance.

Impact on the Chemical Industry

According to Precedence Research, this launch comes at the right time when governments are strengthening food safety and sustainability solutions. These products are expected to be widely adopted by direct food contact packaging manufacturers as they look for potential alternatives to plastic. Sun Chemical has dedicated manufacturing sites to produce DFC inks, which provide significant advantages in terms of quality and regulatory compliance. If these products are successful, other companies competing in the same segment might actively invest in setting up dedicated production plants to stay competitive.

Impact on the Food Packaging Market

The global food packaging market size is calculated at USD 421.60 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 446.50 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 756 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 6.01% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, this launch will provide food packaging manufacturers with alternatives to plastic, as they can coat these inks on other substances as well, without any degradation. This will boost the usage of bio-based substrates and allow manufacturers to provide next-generation sustainable packaging solutions. If these inks prove their capability in real-world conditions, it might result in an increase in investment for the expansion of recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging material production infrastructure.

Impact on the Printing Inks Market

The global printing inks market size is accounted at USD 22.17 billion in 2025 and predicted to increase from USD 22.84 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 29.70 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 2.97% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, this launch might increase the share of the direct food contact segment in the market, as manufacturers can make their food-contact surfaces visually striking. They can write instructions or do marketing by printing designs and text using compatible ink on a non-plastic, sustainable substrate. If this product is successful, there might be a boost in demand for marketing strategy and design firms, as they might get more contracts to develop lucrative prototypes. This development might encourage joint ventures between packaging manufacturers and marketing firms.

Expert Opinion

According to Nicolas Betin, the Director of Product Strategy EMEA and Global Sustainability Business Leader at Sun Chemical, packaging manufacturers and brand owners want fewer intricacies in packaging operations and to enhance recyclability and customer engagement. He said that the launch of SunPak DFC inPace and the expanded AquaPace lineup can be used in offset as well as flexographic applications to enable sustainability, regulatory adherence, efficient processing, and flexibility.

About Sun Chemical

Sun Chemical is a prominent global packaging, graphics, and color solutions provider that focuses on the development of innovative next-generation technologies. The company has 200 years of experience in developing colors and advanced technologies to provide high-quality products and services for its customers. Sun Chemical is an important member of the DIC Group and is a prominent manufacturer of printing inks, coatings, adhesives, pigments, masterbatches, and polymers.

The company has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and is advancing towards its target by incorporating bio-based, renewable, and recyclable substances. They have set 5Rs named reuse, reduce, renew, recycle, and redesign to enhance sustainability in manufacturing, product research and development, and partnerships.