Back to School with Soy-Based Inks
As students head back to classrooms this year, many may not realize how much soy plays a role in their everyday school supplies. From notebooks to textbooks and printed worksheets, soy-based inks are quietly making school more eco-friendly, helping protect the planet while keeping pages bright and colorful.
What are Soy-Based Inks?
Soy-based inks are made from soybean oil rather than petroleum-based oils commonly used in printing. These inks are environmentally friendly, offering several advantages: they are biodegradable, produce less air pollution during manufacturing, and are easier to remove during paper recycling. That means the paper from your worksheets, textbooks, and notebooks can be recycled more efficiently, reducing waste and saving trees. (source) Beyond being eco-friendly, soy-based inks also create brighter colors and sharper text than petroleum-based inks. That means notebook covers, posters, and art projects stay sustainable and look more vibrant.
Where You’ll Find Soy Inks at School
Soy isn’t just grown on farms; it’s also in many supplies students use daily. From notebooks to textbooks, posters, art supplies, and even crayons, soy-based inks and pigments help make school materials more eco-friendly and sustainable. Here’s a closer look at where you’ll find soy in the classroom:
Notebooks and Journals: Many popular notebooks now use soy-based inks for printed lines, covers, and designs. Your favorite spiral notebook might be helping the environment without you even noticing.
Textbooks and Workbooks: Educational publishers are using more soy-based inks. This helps lower the carbon footprint and keeps pages concise and easy to read.
Classroom Materials: Posters, handouts, flyers, and even art supplies can be printed using soy-based inks, making everyday classroom materials greener.
Crayons: Some crayons and coloring supplies use soy-based pigments, which makes them safer and more eco-friendly choices for art projects.
One acre of soybeans can make 82,368 crayons. This is equivalent to making a 24-pack of crayons for 3,432 students. (source)
Why Soy Matters
Soy-based inks highlight how even small choices can make a significant impact. By using a renewable resource like soy instead of oil, schools can depend less on nonrenewable resources. This also helps lower harmful emissions. Plus, supporting soy-based products contributes to South Dakota’s soybean industry, which is an important part of the state’s economy and sustainability efforts. Soy-based inks release fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reducing harmful fumes in classrooms and making them a healthier choice for students and teachers alike. Numbers show that printing a typical textbook with soy-based inks can reduce VOC emissions by up to 60% compared to traditional inks.
A Greener Back-to-School Season
This school year, students and teachers alike can make eco-friendly choices without sacrificing quality. You can choose soy-printed notebooks, recycled paper, or support school programs focusing on sustainability. Soy-based inks show that going green can be easy. It can be as simple as picking up your favorite notebook or textbook. Luckily, notebooks, pencils, backpacks, and paper made from recycled content or sustainably sourced materials are becoming more widely available.
Learning to Value Soy Beyond the Farm
By making these small changes, students help the environment and learn about the innovative ways soy is used beyond the farm. Ready to learn more about the impact of soy in your daily routine? Explore soy’s 1000+ uses.
