During the trial the two companies deinked paper waste containing 5% HP Indigo printed paper combined with the standard mix of print waste. 

The HP Indigo prints were made on a variety of coated and uncoated wood-free papers, with a representative range of ink density including high-coverage photo prints. 

According to Arjowiggins research and development director Andrew Findlay, the trial, which was carried out in standard Greenfield Mill process conditions, achieved "saleable, high-quality deinked pulp suitable for coated or uncoated paper production".

He said: "Importantly, mill process efficiencies were unaffected."

Pinni Perlmutter, director of technology at HP Indigo, added: "HP was pleased with this successful deinking result, which involved over 9 tonnes of HP Indigo prints.

"This well-documented trial creates a useful performance benchmark as we continue to research ways of assessing and improving, as needed, HP Indigo print deinkability for a wide range of deinking mill operations."

However, deinking trade body Ingede questioned the value of the trial, because it was carried out at the highly specialised Greenfield site, a Bright White Office Paper mill, rather than at a standard de-inking plant.

Ingede's Axel Fischer said: "These results are interesting, but not surprising. This is not proof that it will work in every mill, this is not a model for a general deinking plant, and it does not change our attitude of the deinkability of Indigo."

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This article originally appeared at printweek.com