Sustainable development
Thermal Transfer Ribbons with environmental benefits
ARMOR-IIMAK partners can respond to market growing concerns with tangible ribbon environmental benefits. By investing in Thermal Transfer ribbon eco-design, ARMOR-IIMAK offers sustainable alternatives, allowing ribbon users to follow their sustainable development concerns.
Environmental performance is at the heart of ARMOR-IIMAK industrial strategy.
ARMOR GROUP (to which ARMOR-IIMAK belongs) is a signatory of the UN Global Compact since 2008 and is awarded the Ecovadis gold medal since 2020 by showing a continuous commitment towards socially responsible programs. In addition to this, 90% of ARMOR-IIMAK facilities are backed by the ISO 14001 which recognizes the environmental management system.
Thermal Transfer ribbons using less plastics
ARMOR-IIMAK is constantly pushing the boundaries of Thermal Transfer technology to improve the environmental impact of ribbons.
New-generation ribbons such as Cire AWR XL are developed on 3.35µm PET film, which represents a direct 26% reduction in plastic waste compared with standard ribbons on the market, which use 4.5µm PET film.
For ARMOR-IIMAK, it’s not just a question of changing the thickness of the PET, but of rethinking the entire design and manufacturing process.
For the user, this means a significant reduction in the quantity of plastic waste, while optimizing management and processing time and costs.
What’s the Thermal Transfer environmental benefit?
For an application of 3,000 ribbons in 110 mm x 450 m configuration, replacing a standard ribbon with the AWR XL saves 240kg of plastic, equivalent to more than 8,000 plastic bottles.
Low-carbon ribbons
The best way to improve a product’s environmental footprint is to reduce its impact at source. Thanks to its total mastery of every stage in the development of a Thermal Transfer roll, ARMOR-IIMAK has been able to innovate and optimize all the elements that make up the AWR XL wax ribbon.
At the end of its production cycle, a 110mm x 450m AWR XL roll emits 830g less CO2 than a standard wax roll on the market. This is a major development that shows the way to roller users who want to reduce their own environmental impact.
In the ARMOR-IIMAK range, other ribbons have been designed to offer CO2 reduction. For example, the AWR 8, manufactured in France, benefits from a 100% solvent-free (SolFree) manufacturing process, enabling it to boast a 365g Co2 reduction compared with an equivalent ribbon.
What’s the Thermal Transfer environmental benefit?
Replacing a standard Wax roll (110 mm x 450 m, on 4.5µm film) with an AWR XL roll saves up to 830g of CO². For an application of 3,000 ribbons, this represents a total saving of 2.5 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the emissions for one person’s return flight from Paris to Sydney.
Reduce and recover Thermal Transfer waste
ARMOR-IIMAK is determined to reduce the footprint of its products through continuous improvement in production waste management and by finding alternatives for used rolls.
PET production waste
100% recovery of PET production
In many industries, consumer or industrial plastic waste are just landfilled or incinerated. Through a true waste management program, ARMOR-IIMAK has minimized the impact of its 13 production sites.
0% landfilled
Thermal Transfer film production wastes have no impact on soil
100% recovered
Depending on local regulations ARMOR-IIMAK film wastes are preferably used as Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF). In some regions, ARMOR-IIMAK films are destroyed through Incineration with Energy Recovery (IER) processes that generates electricity.
Rec’Pet: the ultimate ribbon recovery solution
To respond to the growing concern of companies for their waste management, ARMOR-IIMAK is offering Rec’Pet Partner: a dedicated collection and recovery program for used rolls.
100% operational in France, USA and Singapore
Choosing Rec’Pet Partner enables you to :
- Eliminate burial and landfill of ribbons
- Encourage circular economy
- Anticipate new laws and taxes for plastic waste
- Adopt a more sustainable business practice
Minimize thermal transfer ribbon manufacturing impact
In order to reduce its carbon footprint ARMOR-IIMAK constantly strives to control the impact of its activities, targeting solutions producing fewer emissions.
Favor renewable green energies
In most countries where ARMOR-IIMAK has Thermal Transfer production sites, the company selects energy suppliers producing electricity from hydroelectric sources.
- ARMOR-IIMAK main manufacturing site in France (95% of total thermal transfer film production)
- 58% electricity from renewable sources
- ARMOR-IIMAK 2nd coating site located in China (5% of total thermal transfer film production)
- 43% electricity from renewable sources
Reduce and re-use Thermal Transfer solvent
Solvent is a key component used within the manufacturing process of Thermal Transfer ribbons. After the evaporation stage, solvents are collected and treated through two Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTO) to produce thermal energy for the factory enabling reduction of gas and electricity consumption.
91% production solvents recovered into factory energy. Over the last 5 years ARMOR-IIMAK has also reduced the quantity of solvent for each square meter of thermal transfer film produced by 15%.
Comply with environmental regulation
ARMOR-IIMAK is committed to produce and market Thermal Transfer ribbons in respect of stringent regulations targeting better environment protection.
- REACH – SVHC Free : Using no Substance of Very High Concern
- Biocides free : 528/2012/EC
- Persistent Organic Pollutants free : 2019/1021/EC
- Heavy Metals free : 2011/65/EC
- Phenol free : No BPA or BPS
- OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 : a dedicated range of compliant textile resins (ATX 1, ATX 7 and ATX 9)
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) :Does not contain persistent, bio accumulative and toxic chemicals
