Soy ink (made from soybean oil) requires less energy to produce than traditional petroleum-based ink. Soybeans require no irrigation and leave fewer agricultural residues than other crops. Development of soy ink began in the late 1970s by the Newspaper Association of America, who sought a different way to make ink because of rising oil prices. Now over 95% of America’s daily newspapers use soy ink. While soy ink is not edible or 100% biodegradable (because of the pigments and other additives mixed with the oil) it is overwhelmingly more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based ink.

Cleaner Air
As soybeans are growing they temporarily remove damaging carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. During printing soy inks significantly reduce the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) released into the air.

Brighter Colors
Soybean oil is clearer which makes for bright colors so less color pigment is needed.

Cost Effective
Because soy ink provides more intense color, less ink is used.

Stability
Soy ink maintains its lithographic stability throughout the entire print job, so the press operator makes fewer adjustments during production and rejects fewer copies because of inferior quality.

Recycling
Soy ink can be removed more easily from paper during the de-inking process. This allows the recycled paper to have less damage to its paper fibers and have a brighter appearance. Also, the waste from the ink is not hazardous.