EU microplastics rules: What they really mean for Flint Group inks

Microplastics have been a common topic in the headlines in recent years, but there has been some confusion about their presence in printing inks. Regulations like the EU’s Microplastics Restriction have led some to believe that all synthetic polymer microparticles (SPMs) in inks and paints are banned. However, this is not the case.

This regulation sets out how SPM-containing products must be designed, used, labelled, and reported, while still enabling industrial printing inks to remain on the market.

What is the Microplastics Restriction?

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 introduces Entry 78 of Annex XVII to the EU REACH regulation and targets synthetic polymer microparticles that are intentionally added to products and may be released into the environment. These are solid, carbon‑based polymers that are present in or on particles up to 5mm, or fibre‑like particles up to 15mm, which are very persistent and do not readily degrade or dissolve in water.

The restriction took effect on 17 October 2023 and applies across multiple sectors. Rather than a blanket ban, the law combines prohibitions, derogations, information requirements and reporting duties, depending on how and where SPMs are used.

Are SPMs banned in printing inks?

No. Printing inks and related products used at industrial sites benefit from a derogation under Entry 78, so SPMs in these inks are not banned. REACH specifically exempts polymer microparticles for use at industrial sites from the general placing-on-the-market restriction, so long as the required information and Instructions for Use and Disposal (IFUD) are provided to industrial users.

For Flint Group, this means that SPM‑containing inks and coatings can continue to be placed on the European market and used in industrial printing operations. The main focus is on reducing any releases to the environment and ensuring simple, clear, and compliant communication along the value chain.

Why printed articles are out of scope

The Microplastics Restriction covers SPMs while they are present as particles, not after they have changed form during normal use. In printing, SPMs in inks and coatings fuse during drying or curing to form continuous films on the substrate. This means they are no longer present as discrete particles.

Because the polymer has permanently lost its particulate form, these printed articles fall outside the definition of SPMs in Entry 78 and are therefore not in scope of the restriction. This covers typical printed packaging, labels, and commercial print items, where the ink film remains fixed to the surface throughout the product’s life.

The regulation also recognises where SPMs remain but are permanently incorporated into a solid matrix during intended end use, and exempts them from the ban. In these cases, the particles are immobilised and are not expected to be released under normal use conditions.

In a small number of Flint Group or customer applications, rubber particles or similar SPMs may still be present after printing. However, they are trapped within the ink or coating matrix of the finished article. As a result, these printed articles are also treated as out of scope of Entry 78 because the SPMs are permanently enclosed.

How does this affect Flint Group customers?

From 17 October 2025, safety data sheets for Flint Group products in Europe include all legally required information on SPMs in dedicated sections. This ensures customers have clear, consistent guidance on safe use and disposal, as well as transparency about the types and amounts of SPMs present.

Specifically, customers can expect the following information in Flint Group’s SDS for products within the European jurisdiction:

Instructions for Use and Disposal (IFUD):

• Section 7 (Handling and storage) and Section 13 (Disposal considerations) contain IFUD on how to handle products, manage residues and waste, and prevent unnecessary releases of SPMs to the environment.

SPM content and type:

• Section 15 (Regulatory information) states the amount of SPM present in the product.
• Section 15 also provides the generic type of SPM used, supporting customers’ own regulatory and sustainability assessments.

With this information, Flint Group customers retain access to SPM‑containing industrial inks that comply with REACH, while being equipped to manage them responsibly in their own operations.