NIT Jalandhar Supports BIS in Upgrading Food Packaging Ink Standards

Ivory Tower: NIT backs BIS efforts to modernise food packaging ink standards

Image Credits: The Tribune

Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jalandhar, India, has submitted a report to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-funded project regarding their project name ‘Study of properties for Environment-friendly printing inks for food packaging (CHD0044).

The BIS-funded project was led by Professor Rohit Mehra and research scholars Abhishek and Arti, which mentioned the studies on the performance, eco-friendliness and safety of printing inks that are used for food packaging.

The report included a thorough examination of samples collected from various industries across the country, which were evaluated on the basis of drying time, density, adhesion, viscosity, strength and element composition. The report is a key finding in the Indian food packaging industry, as it will help BIS to take necessary precautions for strengthening packaging ink standards.

Principal Investigator Prof Rohit Mehra said,

“The project bridges the gap between research and industry by providing BIS with concrete data on the properties and safety of eco-friendly inks. These insights will allow BIS to frame robust and future-ready standards that safeguard public health while promoting sustainability in packaging practices.”

The report is expected to help in several ways, like it will expand the exclusion of harmful substances. It will also help in creating benchmarks for performances in various parameters like density, adhesion, drying time and many more. Moreover, the BIS is expected to take steps like the guideline adoption of eco-friendly inks, which are water-based, UV-curable and bio-based formulations, which also align with the norms of the FDA, EU, and ISO.

The director of NIT, Professor Binod Kumar Kanaujia, also said that the institute is proud to contribute to such a project, which will help in improving food safety and sustainability.

He further added that 

“the outcomes of this project will not only strengthen consumer protection but also encourage Indian industries to adopt cleaner, safer and more innovative practices in line with national missions like ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.”