S-One Labels & Packaging (S-OneLP) has partnered with Varcotec to further the position of its Lock 3 antimicrobial overprint varnish in Europe.

Lock 3 is a water-based overprint varnish that is claimed to reduce viruses, germs, and bacteria on printed surfaces, such as labels and flexible packaging.

It has been developed by Varcotec, which is a specialist in the development and manufacture of ecologically high-quality and economically efficient system solutions for the printing industry.

S-OneLP noted that demand for hygiene products ‘exploded’ in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the world, the consequence of which included extensive hand sanitising routines and cleansing of high touch surfaces. Online sales of hand sanitiser and wipes alone grew by 5,687% in the early days of the pandemic, according to the company.

Building on this, brands and consumers are increasingly looking at packaging that offers germ-fighting benefits, driving demand for antimicrobial materials. Citing figures from Market Data Forecast, the size of the antimicrobial coatings market is expected to grow at a double-digit rate, eventually reaching $1.34 billion by 2025. The UK makes up the largest consumer base for antimicrobial coatings in Europe, and much of the current growth is attributed to demands from health care and packaging industries. This market is not expected to decline as vaccines become readily available and deployed.

The antimicrobial properties of Lock 3 are activated by visible light that transfers energy to create singlet oxygen, which kills germs and viruses by oxidation on dry and humid surfaces. The highly reactive singlet oxygen has been used routinely in medicine for over 20 years and has been clinically tested for its antimicrobial effects at the Fraunhofer Institute in Munich. There currently are at least 34 scientific studies that demonstrate that singlet oxygen can efficiently destroy a wide variety of viruses, including Ebola, SARS, influenza, herpes, norovirus, and HIV. Whilst Lock 3 has not been tested to kill the Covid-19 virus, it should form part of the overall work to prevent the spread of germs and infections.

Lock 3 is certified for both direct and indirect food contact and is effective against viruses, bacteria, spores, and fungi for up to three years. This varnish is currently the only fully effective antiviral OPV on the market, according to S-OneLP. Futher, Lock 3 varnishes are free from heavy metals, are odorless, and have no impact on the recycling process of respective products or packaging, it is claimed.

Last summer, Siegwerk entered into a distribution partnership with Varcotec for to distribute Lock 3 throughout the EMEA region.