Across Canada, manufacturers are under mounting pressure to reduce waste and improve product sustainability. From consumer expectations to new federal and provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, packaging is being reimagined for recyclability and circularity.
However, one piece of the sustainability puzzle has often been overlooked: the label itself.
Traditional labeling methods rely on layered materials: paper or film stock, adhesives, and release liners. These not only add cost and complexity to the packaging process but also generate significant waste. Once applied, they can interfere with recyclability, especially when labels and adhesives must be separated from the base material.
For Canadian producers, wet-on-wet printing represents a breakthrough, offering direct-to-product marking that allows manufacturers to print essential information, branding, and traceability data directly onto the package surface.
What is wet-on-wet printing?
Wet-on-wet printing is a high-resolution inkjet process in which multiple ink layers are applied directly to the surface in immediate succession without any drying time between them. Instead of printing, waiting, and curing in stages, the coloured background and the overlaid text or code are both applied in a single pass, drying together almost instantly. This single-step process allows for high-speed, high-contrast printing that keeps production moving without interruptions.
At REA JET, this capability is powered by the HR thermal inkjet printers, which deliver exceptional clarity and precision on a wide range of surfaces, including foil, plastic, metal, and cardboard. With resolutions up to 600 dpi and print heights that can scale from 12.7 mm to over 50 mm by cascading heads, marks remain sharp even on challenging or non-absorbent materials, and line speed never needs to slow down.
Eliminating Labels, Simplifying Recycling
Traditional labeling introduces multiple waste streams which all interfere with recyclability, from backing paper to adhesive residue. Wet-on-wet printing removes these materials entirely, creating a single, uniform substrate that can be processed through existing recycling systems. The only consumable is the ink itself. REA JET’s low-VOC inks are designed with environmental compliance and standard recycling processes in mind.
A win-win for energy and cost efficiency
Sustainability and efficiency often go hand-in-hand. Traditional label applicators require heat, mechanical rollers, and frequent stoppages for reel changes and maintenance. Wet-on-wet printing removes these inefficiencies by running continuously, with lower energy consumption and virtually no downtime.
The HR’s cartridge-based design allows ink cartridges — which contain their own print heads — to be swapped mid-operation, keeping production lines running without downtime. Heated print heads maintain consistent quality in variable temperatures, a key advantage for Canadian manufacturing environments. With fewer consumables and minimal maintenance requirements, the system lowers both energy use and waste output.
For plant managers thinking about the environment and their bottom line, the REA JET HR presents a tangible advantage. Fewer moving parts, faster product changeovers, and reduced maintenance all translate into lower operating costs and stronger ROI, while reinforcing a brand’s commitment to sustainable operations.Discover how REA JET Canada can help your operation move beyond labels with sustainable, high-efficiency wet-on-wet printing. Connect with our team and request a demo using your brand’s materials at reajet.ca.