Ink and coating specialist ACTEGA has partnered with bio-based pigment innovator Living Ink Technologies to introduce ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink.
This marks the first commercially available UV flexographic ink formulated with Living Ink’s carbon-negative Algae Black pigment.
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Supporting the development of this ink, Waiakea recently committed to adopting algae-derived inks across its entire supply chain.
The collaboration began five years ago when Waiakea and Living Ink Technologies started working to replace traditional carbon black ink, derived from petroleum, with an alternative made from algae.
In 2024, ACTEGA joined the effort through a formal development agreement to scale up the innovation for broader industry use.
The new ink is part of ACTEGA’s ACTExact range and is formulated with Living Ink’s Algae Black pigment.
This pigment is produced from waste algae biomass and has been assessed by third parties as having a -4.16kg carbon-negative footprint of CO₂-equivalent per kilogram.
Living Ink Technologies has previously developed similar algae-based ink systems for different printing methods, and these have been used by companies focusing on environmentally conscious packaging and printing.
For this latest project, NextGen Label Group integrated the new ink into its production process for Waiakea after undergoing extensive tests and trials.
The algae-based pigment is currently only available in black, but it has allowed Waiakea to entirely replace the black ink used in its labels with the new product.
The ink is now open for trial runs and bulk orders through ACTEGA and works with standard UV flexographic printing equipment.
Initial distribution covers North America and the European Union, with plans to expand availability in other regions.
ACTEGA CTO Ben Lux said: “ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink represents a meaningful advancement in both performance and sustainability.
“Guided by our unwavering commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship, we’re proud to bring to market an ink that not only meets high production standards but also helps our customers reduce their environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future for our industry.”
