Printing on greaseproof paper works best with an open, repeating pattern in a few spot colours, printed by flexography with water-based inks on the face that never touches food. Artwork designed for board often fails on a wrap: a full-bleed burger photograph in deep red that would print well on a carton will, on a 32 gsm wrap, curl, dry slowly, risk ink transferring to the food side and show through as a muddy image. Below are the reasons, the coverage thin wraps tolerate, and the food-safety rules that apply to the ink. For the wraps themselves, see custom printed greaseproof paper.
Why is printing on greaseproof paper harder than printing board?
Greaseproof paper is thin, dense and engineered to resist liquids, so ink sits on the surface rather than soaking in, dries more slowly, and the sheet reacts to the water in water-based inks. Heavy coverage can cause curl, cockling and show-through, and raises the risk of set-off onto the food-contact face.
The main substrate effects:
- Low absorbency: the closed, refined surface that keeps fat out also keeps ink out, so drying relies on evaporation and press dryers rather than penetration.
- Thinness: at roughly 28-45 gsm, the sheet has little stiffness, and moisture from ink can make it expand unevenly and wrinkle.
- Translucency: light greaseproof grades let print show from the reverse, and colours on the outside appear softer when seen through the paper.
- Substrate colour: white, natural and brown kraft-look greaseproof each shift printed colours differently.
- Reel tension: thin webs need careful tension control on press, which affects register on multi-colour designs.
Which printing method is used for greaseproof wraps?
Flexographic printing on reel-fed presses is the standard method for printed greaseproof wraps, using water-based inks in typically one to four spot colours. It handles thin webs at speed, prints continuous repeat patterns, and works with ink systems suited to food packaging.
Other processes appear occasionally:
| Process | Use on greaseproof wraps | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Flexo (water-based inks) | Standard for most printed wraps, liners and sheets | Spot colours, repeat patterns, good economy on volume runs |
| Flexo (solvent-based inks) | Less common for food-contact paper | Used mainly on films; residual solvent and odour need control |
| Rotogravure | Very long runs of fine designs | High cylinder cost; rarely justified for wraps |
| Offset | Sheet-fed printing of heavier papers | Thin wraps are difficult to run; more common on board |
| Digital | Samples, prototypes, very short runs | Ink system and food-contact suitability must be checked case by case |
A broader comparison of print processes across packaging types is in flexo vs offset vs gravure vs digital printing. Tray liners and placemats sit on heavier papers and can use offset or full-colour methods that thin wraps cannot; see tray liner printing.
How much ink coverage can a thin wrap take?
Keep coverage moderate: open patterns, line work and repeated logos print reliably, while large solid areas and full-bleed images on thin greaseproof increase curl, drying problems, set-off risk and cost. Many converters review designs with heavy solids before quoting and may suggest a lighter pattern.
Why coverage matters on wraps specifically:
- More ink means more water to dry off a sheet that does not absorb it, which slows the press or risks undried ink on the reel
- Solid areas stiffen and distort thin paper differently from unprinted areas, causing waviness and curl in stacks
- Overprinting colours (trapping or building colours from several inks) multiplies the ink weight in those areas
- Heavy ink layers on the outside face can rub off onto hands or packaging when fat reaches the printed surface
Design approaches that work well:
| Approach | Why it suits greaseproof |
|---|---|
| All-over logo repeat on a clear background | Low total coverage, brand visible on every cut sheet |
| Line illustration or pattern in one or two colours | Clean on a translucent sheet, minimal ink weight |
| Tone-on-tone or single dark colour on brown paper | Natural look with modest coverage |
| Small solid elements (badges, roundels) within an open pattern | Strong brand marks without large solids |
| Avoid: full-bleed photography, large dark solids, fine text reversed out of solids | High coverage, fill-in and drying issues |
Repeat patterns and cut position
Flexo prints a continuous repeat set by the plate cylinder circumference, and cut sheets are taken from that web. Unless print-to-cut registration is agreed, the cut will fall at a different point in the pattern on each sheet. Design the pattern so it repeats without visible joins in both directions and looks complete wherever it is cut. If a logo must sit centred on each sheet, registration marks and controlled cutting are needed; the sizing implications are covered in burger wrap and basket liner sizes.
Colour expectations on translucent paper
Spot (Pantone) colours give the most consistent results on flexo, but the same ink looks different on white, natural and brown greaseproof, and a light sheet adds a slightly greyed appearance from the reverse. Approve colours against a print on the actual paper rather than a coated-paper swatch. The principles are set out in Pantone vs CMYK in packaging, and file preparation (vector artwork, spot colour separations, trapping) in packaging artwork preparation.
Which side of the wrap should be printed?
Print on the outer face that does not touch food. That is standard practice for printed wraps, and it means the ink is not intended to contact the food directly, although the food-safety rules on transfer and migration still apply.
Confirm which face is the food-contact side before artwork is finalised. For coated grease-resistant papers this is usually the coated face; for true greaseproof both faces look similar, so the converter and the operator need to agree which face goes towards the food. Also consider how the wrap is folded: on a diagonal or envelope fold, part of the outer face can end up touching the product edge or another surface, which is one more reason to use ink systems suitable for food packaging even on the outer side.
What is set-off and why does it matter?
Set-off is the unintended transfer of ink components from the printed face of one layer to the unprinted, food-contact face of the next layer, when paper is wound in a reel or stacked as sheets. EU rules explicitly require it to be prevented.
EU Good Manufacturing Practice Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 requires that printing inks on the non-food side are formulated and applied so that substances are not transferred to the food-contact side, either through the substrate or by set-off in the stack or reel, in quantities that would breach the safety requirements of Regulation (EC) 1935/2004. In practice, converters control set-off through ink selection, adequate drying, reel tension and stack pressure, and by keeping coverage and ink weight within what the press can dry.
Set-off risk rises with:
- Heavy coverage and overprinted solids
- Insufficient drying before rewinding or sheeting
- High winding tension or heavy stack weight in storage
- Ink systems containing components not suited to food packaging
Which ink rules apply to printed food wraps?
In the EU, printed wraps fall under Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and GMP Regulation (EC) 2023/2006; there is no harmonised EU ink positive list, so the Swiss Ordinance SR 817.023.21 (Annex 10) and EuPIA guidance are widely used references, and the German Printing Ink Ordinance applies from 1 January 2027. In the US, components must comply with FDA food-contact requirements.
| Jurisdiction | Instrument or reference | What it means for wrap inks |
|---|---|---|
| EU | Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 | Materials must not transfer constituents to food in quantities that endanger health or change the food unacceptably |
| EU | GMP Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 | Quality system for printing; inks on the non-food side must not transfer through the substrate or by set-off |
| Switzerland (market reference) | Ordinance SR 817.023.21, Annex 10 | Positive list of substances for food-contact inks, widely used across Europe as a benchmark |
| Industry guidance | EuPIA guidelines and exclusion list | Ink manufacturers' guidance on raw material selection and good practice for food packaging inks |
| Germany | Printing Ink Ordinance (Druckfarbenverordnung, 21st amendment of the Bedarfsgegenständeverordnung) | National positive list for inks on food-contact materials; applies from 1 January 2027 after the transition ends on 31 December 2026 |
| UK | Assimilated Regulations 1935/2004 and 2023/2006 (GB); Northern Ireland follows EU rules | Same principles as the EU |
| US | FDA food-contact framework (21 CFR 174-178, GRAS, prior sanction or effective Food Contact Notification) | Ink components must have a valid basis for their use in food packaging; confirm the supplier's position for the specific use |
For a full overview of the documents a chain's quality team usually asks for, see food-contact packaging compliance in the EU, UK and US.
Low-migration and mineral oil-free inks
"Low-migration" describes ink systems formulated and tested so that migration of their components stays below applicable limits when used as intended. For food wraps, buyers commonly ask for water-based or low-migration ink systems that are free from mineral oil components, both because mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/MOAH) are a recognised concern for paper food packaging and because many retailers and chains have their own restrictions. There is currently no binding EU limit for mineral oil in packaging, so requirements usually come from customer specifications.
Can print affect grease resistance or odour?
It can, if the ink or its drying alters the paper surface or leaves residues. Printing on the non-food face with moderate coverage normally leaves the food-contact face unchanged, but heavy solids and poorly dried ink can affect barrier performance, odour and taint.
Checks worth including in a new wrap approval:
- Grease resistance on printed samples, not only plain paper, especially for designs with large solids (methods in KIT test and grease resistance ratings explained)
- Odour and off-flavour, assessed with sensory methods such as those in the EN 1230 series for paper and board
- Rub resistance of the printed face, including when it is touched with greasy fingers
- Migration or extraction testing as required by the chain's food-safety specification
Sampling and pre-production approval are covered in packaging sampling and quality control.
Artwork checklist for printed greaseproof wraps
Before sending artwork, confirm:
- Food-contact face identified, print on the opposite face
- Number of colours and Pantone references, with expectations for colour on the chosen paper (white, natural or brown)
- Design built as an open, continuous repeat, or registered to each sheet if agreed
- Coverage kept moderate, with no large full-bleed solids or photographs
- Fine lines and small text checked for thin, flexo-suitable reproduction (avoid small reversed text)
- Repeat length and logo spacing matched to the sheet size or tear length
- Ink requirements stated: water-based or low-migration, mineral oil-free, compliance references needed
- Approval route agreed: digital proof, printed sample on the production paper, or press approval
Send the brief through the custom printed greaseproof paper page or submit your artwork for a print and food-contact review.