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ACTEGA<\/a>, a global specialist in inks and coatings, and Living Ink Technologies, a leader in bio-based pigment innovation, have announced the launch of ACTExact\u00ae UV Black Algae Ink, the first commercially available UV flexographic ink formulated with carbon-negative Algae Black\u2122 pigment. The launch comes in tandem with its first commercial application: beverage labels printed by NextGen Label Group\u2122 for the brand many consider to be the enviro-tech leader of the bottled water and larger beverage industry, Wai\u0101kea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages.<\/p>\n The innovation was sponsored and supported by Wai\u0101kea, which earlier this year announced it would be the first food and beverage<\/a> brand globally to commercialize algae-based inks on its labels across its supply chain. The brand first began R&D with partner Living Ink Technologies five years ago, aiming to replace petroleum-based carbon black ink with an algae-derived alternative for all flexographic applications.<\/p>\n “Wai\u0101kea has tested and co-developed a number of sustainable inks and rigid materials over the last decade. None have met the performance standards and the carbon-reduction potential needed for widespread adoption. ACTExact\u00ae UV Black Algae Ink finally checks both boxes, said Ryan Emmons, Co-Founder and CEO of Wai\u0101kea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages. \u201cThere was no better combination of partners whose excellence, dedication, and commitment to the mission could have brought this innovation to life.\u201d<\/p>\n Building on that concept, ACTEGA and Living Ink Technologies entered into a joint development agreement in 2024 and collaborated with Wai\u0101kea to advance the formulation, combining the vision of bio-based pigment expertise with advanced coating technology, ink formulation capabilities, and a nationally distributed beverage brand to bring the idea to scale for wider industry use.<\/p>\n Their goal: to bring a high-performance, UV-curable flexo ink<\/a> to market that meets the print industry\u2019s rigorous technical demands while dramatically reducing carbon emissions.<\/p>\n ACTExact\u00ae UV Black Algae Ink is the latest addition to ACTEGA\u2019s popular ACTExact\u00ae product family \u2014 flexographic inks designed for improved press performance, consistency, and ease of use. The new formulation integrates Living Ink\u2019s Algae Black\u2122 pigment, derived from discarded algae biomass and proven through a third-party Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to be carbon-negative, with a net footprint of -4.16 kg CO\u2082-equivalent per kilogram of pigment.<\/p>\n Living Ink has spent years formulating and commercializing a range of Algae Ink\u2122 systems in-house for conventional flexographic, screen, and offset printing applications. These formulations have been used successfully across apparel, packaging, and publication projects with a growing list of sustainability-forward brands. However, this joint development agreement with ACTEGA marks the company\u2019s first formal collaboration with an industry-renowned ink manufacturer and its entrance into the UV flexo product category \u2014 an important step toward expanding access and scalability through trusted commercial supply chains.<\/p>\n \u201cAlgae Black\u2122 pigment was developed to reimagine how color can serve the planet,\u201d said Dr. Scott Fulbright, CEO and Co-founder of Living Ink Technologies. \u201cOur long-term collaboration with ACTEGA demonstrates how industry leaders can unite innovation and impact to deliver scalable, sustainable solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n