Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. has chosen Asahi Kasei’s AWP™ water-washable flexographic plates for printing labels on their 550 ml PET bottles in Japan. This marks the first use of AWP™ plates in the Japanese beverage industry and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 30% compared to the previous process.
Asahi Kasei collaborated with Fuji Seal, Inc. to implement this next-generation flexo printing technology. The switch from solvent-washable plates to water-washable plates is a significant step toward a more environmentally friendly printing process. The AWP™ plates, which use a water-based washing solution, are now being used at Suntory Beverage & Food’s Kyushu Kumamoto Plant, replacing the previous solvent-washable plates.
Flexographic printing is widely used globally, but the plates used are typically solvent-washable, requiring organic solvent-based washing solutions. Asahi Kasei’s AWP™ plates offer a more sustainable alternative with their water-based washing solution.
Asahi Kasei’s Group Mission of contributing to life and living for people worldwide drives their promotion of the AWP™ family of water-washable plates to replace solvent-washable plates in beverage label applications. This shift is expected to reduce the environmental impact of printing, aligning with the goal of achieving a sustainable society.