Ever wondered what goes into the ink that prints your labels, packaging, or marketing materials? Most businesses focus on color quality, print speed, and durability—but rarely think about what’s behind that glossy finish. Traditional solvent-based inks, while effective, often come with hidden costs—environmental concerns, VOC emissions, and complicated disposal processes.
That’s why water-based inks are becoming the go-to choice for brands that value both high-quality printing and sustainable practices. At Arrow Digital, our water-based inks are specifically designed to offer vibrant, long-lasting prints while reducing environmental impact.
And when paired with inline priming and varnishing, your production becomes even more efficient and flexible—giving you total control from print to finish.
Let’s break it down—what’s inside these inks, and why are they better for your business and the planet?
Unlike solvent-based or UV inks, which rely on chemical solvents or curing agents, water-based inks primarily use water as the carrier fluid. This simple but powerful change in composition makes them safer, cleaner, and more versatile.
Our inks consist of:
This composition ensures that the final print is non-toxic, low-odor, and safe for use in sensitive industries like food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and more.
One of the biggest sustainability wins of water-based inks is their low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content. Unlike solvent-based inks, which release harmful gases during printing and drying, water-based inks emit little to no VOCs. This means:
In industries like food packaging, this makes water-based inks not just an eco-friendly choice, but often the only regulatory-compliant option.
Here’s where things get even more powerful. When you integrate inline priming and varnishing, you unlock an end-to-end finishing workflow—directly on your press.
This inline workflow, available in machines like the ArrowJet Bolt, not only boosts production speed but also eliminates the need for secondary equipment, cutting down time, labor, and operational costs.
The result? Labels that look and perform like premium packaging—finished, durable, and shelf-ready in one continuous pass.
With water-based inks, there’s no need for energy-intensive curing lamps (like with UV inks), which significantly reduces energy consumption during the printing process. Additionally, because these inks are easier to clean, less water and fewer chemicals are needed during maintenance, cutting down operational waste.
When paired with ArrowJet systems like the ArrowJet Aqua 330R, ArrowJet Nova 250R, or the high-speed ArrowJet Bolt, our water-based inks and inline enhancements are optimized for on-demand printing—which means you only print what you need, avoiding overproduction and waste.
One of the myths surrounding water-based inks is that they can’t match the vibrancy or durability of other inks. Not anymore.
Our advanced water-based formulations are:
And with inline priming and varnishing, your prints don’t just look great—they’re protected, polished, and production-ready.
Today’s consumers expect brands to be environmentally conscious. In fact, studies show that sustainability influences purchase decisions now more than ever. By switching to eco-friendly water-based inks, your brand not only reduces its carbon footprint but also aligns with consumer expectations—helping you stand out in a competitive marketplace.
And when your labels look this good—glossed, finished, and durable—you’re not just eco-friendly, you’re market-ready.
At Arrow Digital, we believe sustainability and performance shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. Our water-based inks combine cutting-edge composition with eco-friendly benefits, and when paired with inline priming and varnishing, they create a complete label production solution that’s fast, flexible, and future-ready.
Whether you’re printing short runs, high volumes, or fully customized labels, our ink technology is designed to meet your needs without compromising on your values.
Table of Contents Ink Composition & Sustainability Benefits of Our Water-Based Inks Ever wondered what goes into the ink that prints your labels, packaging, or
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