Can Water-Based Ink Contain Alcohol?

In the world of modern printing, “water-based ink” has become a synonym for eco-friendly, low-VOC, and safer printing technologies — especially in gravure and flexographic printing. Yet, one common question remains: Can water-based ink contain alcohol, such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (IPA)?

The short answer is yes — it can, and often does.

Why Alcohol Is Used in Water-Based Ink

While water is the primary solvent in water-based inks, a small amount of alcohol (commonly ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) is often included for very practical reasons.

Alcohol helps:

Improve wetting and leveling: Reduces surface tension so ink spreads evenly on non-porous substrates like plastic films.

Enhance drying speed: Alcohols evaporate faster than water, helping the ink dry efficiently at high printing speeds.

Increase print stability: Prevents foaming and improves ink transfer consistency on the press.

These benefits are especially important in gravure and flexographic printing, where high-speed drying and smooth film formation are critical.

How Much Alcohol Is Allowed? 

Even though alcohol can be present, the amount is strictly limited.

Typically, water-based inks contain 5–20% alcohol by weight — much less than solvent-based systems, which may contain over 60% organic solvents.

To be classified as “water-based,” the ink must:

Use water as the main carrier or solvent (usually over 50%).

Keep VOC (volatile organic compound) content below regulatory limits.

Avoid hazardous or high-boiling solvents (like toluene or MEK).

This balance allows the ink to maintain low emissions, while achieving excellent print performance.

Environmental and Safety Advantages

Even when alcohol is present, water-based inks remain far safer and more sustainable than solvent-based inks because:

Alcohols such as ethanol and IPA are low-toxicity and biodegradable.

Total VOC emissions are significantly lower — often reduced by 60–80%.

Work environments become safer, with fewer fire hazards and less odor.

For converters and printers moving toward ESG compliance, this reduction in VOCs helps meet both corporate sustainability goals and government air quality regulations.

Regulations Around the World

Different regions define “water-based ink” slightly differently, but all share a similar intent — to limit VOCs and replace harmful solvents.

United States (EPA): Defines compliant inks by VOC content; water-based systems with <25–40% VOC by volume qualify.

China (GB 38507-2020): Classifies water-based inks as those using water as the main diluent, with strict VOC limits for gravure and flexo inks.

European Union: Encourages the use of low-VOC and mineral-oil-free inks for packaging, aligning with food-safety and sustainability goals.

Taiwan: Promotes water-based and MOAH/MOSH-free inks, especially for food packaging, under its green manufacturing and low-VOC policies.

Across all these markets, small alcohol content is acceptable, provided total VOC levels remain within regulated limits.

The Future Outlook

As resin and dispersion technologies evolve, next-generation water-based inks are achieving better drying speed and adhesion even with less or no alcohol. Some advanced formulas now use bio-based wetting agents or low-VOC co-solvents as alternatives to ethanol or IPA.

However, in most high-performance applications — especially gravure and flexo printing on flexible packaging — alcohol will likely remain an essential, controlled ingredient for the foreseeable future.