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What is TPO?
TPO is a photoinitiator widely used in digital UV inkjet inks. It works by absorbing UV light which generates free radicals. These initiate the polymerisation of the ink’s monomers and oligomers. TPO has strong absorption in the near-UV region (around 350-420 nm), making it effective for curing under common UV LED and mercury lamp sources. This is why TPO is so popular and has been used for pretty much since digital inkjets inception.
TPO has become a major talking point. Why?
Regulatory and environmental considerations. There is increasing regulatory pressure to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous substances in inks and coatings. TPO has recently been added to the EU REACH appendicies which now restricts its use to ‘Proffesional Users’ only. Additionally, the announcements of reclassification of TPO and commencement of adding TPO to the Authorisation list (a ban unless special permission or an exemption is obtained) have begun to generate conversations between suppliers, manufacturers and end users alike.
When are regulations coming into effect and is this just a regulatory change in the EU and UK or wider?
Some regulatory changes have already come into affect. In 2025, under EU regulations, TPO was reclassified to Reprotoxic1B H360Fd, Skin Sensitising 1B H317. The previously mentioned marked packaging for ‘restricted to professional users’ have also come into place in the same period of time. in November 2025, ECHA announced that it had commenced consideration of adding TPO to the Authorisation List. Full authorisation is expected to take approx 2-3 years since the announcement with a further ‘sunset date’ expected before a full ban within the EU. This could mean, the roadmap to a total ban could be between 3-6 years after announcement.
What does this mean for the industry?
Banning TPO completley could pose significant challenges for the print industry if not carefully considered well ahead of time. These include formulation difficulties, potential performance compromises and increased costs. However, it will also drive innovation toward safer and more sustainable photoinitiators in the long term.
Could this result in cost increases or supply issues?
There is always a risk when moving from a tried and tested way of formulating Digital UV inks. TPO has been traditionally used for its balance of curing speed, depth of cure, and compatibility with various monomers and oligomers. As it is so widely used by many UV ink suppliers, TPO is one of the cheapest raw materials used in ink formulation. As the industry moves away from TPO in favour of safer alternatives, this will likely come with a cost implication however, that will smooth out over time as the alternative photoinitiators will be more readily available for bulk manufacture and supply. The larger inkjet ink manufacturers like Fujifilm will be able to secure larger volumes and regular supply more easily than smaller entities, minimising cost.
Why has compliance become such an important topic in the inkjet industry?
Compliance in the inkjet industry is crucial to ensure health and safety, meet environmental regulations, access markets, foster innovation, and manage complex global supply chains. As regulations tighten and customer expectations rise, compliance has become a key factor for sustainable business success and industry reputation.
How does Fujifilm Ink stay ahead of changing regulations?
Fujiilm take H&S and regulatory issues seriously and place high importance on any incoming changes. We have a dedicated team based in Broadstairs, UK who specialise in chemical and environmental regulations and legislation. Responsibilities include SDS amendments and label changes, chemical classification investigations and explanations, responding to supplier/customer questionnaires, and advising on raw material usage exemptions and volume export limitations. The regulatory team also share all findings and updates in a quarterly meeting with the Fujifilm R&D and Product Managers to help steer development projects.
Why is inhouse inkjet development such an advantage?
Fujifilm’s in-house inkjet development provides greater control, flexibility, and speed in creating optimised, high-quality inks tailored to their specific printing systems and markets. Fujifilm UK has the advantage of having, R&D, Marketing, Manufacturing, Compliance and Technical Service all in the same site making collaboration very powerful. It enhances innovation, cost management, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, ultimately delivering a stronger competitive advantage.
What does Fujifilm Ink’s regulatory leadership mean for OEM partners?
Working closely with Fujifilm means direct access to the dedicated product safety team. Queries, requests etc. can be handled quickly knowing that we always have personal who have the latest information on key concerns around regulations and legislation. Relying on third party suppliers all but abandons this approach.
Does compliance ever compromise on performance?
It depends on what is meant by performance. If performance is measured by safety, emmisions, VOC etc then a high level of compliance is critical to achieving such related certification such as Greenguard Gold, Agbb and so on. In today’s market, end users are becoming more and more concerned by the inks ‘safety performance’ almost as much as price and quality.