ACTEGA launches UV flexographic ink based on carbon-negative algae pigment

This innovation was sponsored and supported by Waiākea, which announced earlier this year that it would be the first food and beverage brand in the world to market algae-based inks on its labels throughout its supply chain. The brand began its R&D activities with its partner Living Ink Technologies five years ago with the goal of replacing petroleum-based black ink with an algae-derived alternative for flexographic applications.

“Over the past ten years, Waiākea has tested and co-developed several sustainable inks and rigid materials. None of them met the performance standards and carbon reduction potential required for widespread adoption. ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink finally meets both of these criteria. There was no better combination of partners whose excellence, dedication, and commitment to the mission could have made this innovation a reality,” said Ryan Emmons, co-founder and CEO of Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages.

Building on this concept, ACTEGA and Living Ink Technologies entered into a joint development agreement in 2024 and collaborated with Waiākea to advance the formulation. Their combined expertise - bio-based pigments, advanced coating technologies, ink formulation, and the support of a nationally distributed beverage brand - enabled them to evolve this concept into a marketable solution for industry.

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The goal is to bring to market a high-performance UV flexographic ink that meets the rigorous technical requirements of the printing industry, while also significantly reducing carbon emissions.

ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink joins ACTEGA's renowned ACTExact® range, a series of flexographic inks designed to improve performance, consistency, and ease of use in the press. This new formulation incorporates Algae Black™ pigment from Living Ink, derived from recovered algal biomass. A life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted by a third-party organization confirms its negative carbon footprint, with a net impact of -4.16 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of pigment.

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Living Ink develops and markets a range of Algae Ink™ systems for conventional flexographic, screen printing, and offset printing applications. These formulations have been successfully used in apparel, packaging, and publishing projects for a growing number of sustainability-conscious brands.

However, this joint development agreement with ACTEGA marks Living Ink's first official collaboration with an established ink manufacturer and its entry into the UV flexographic ink market. This milestone represents a significant step toward wider adoption through reliable commercial supply chains.

“The Algae Black™ pigment was developed to rethink how color can serve the planet. Our long-standing collaboration with ACTEGA demonstrates how industry leaders can combine innovation and impact to deliver sustainable and scalable solutions,” said Dr. Scott Fulbright, CEO and co-founder of Living Ink Technologies.

“ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink represents a significant advancement in both performance and sustainability. Driven by our commitment to innovation and environmental protection, we are proud to bring to market an ink that meets high production demands while helping our customers reduce their environmental footprint and support a more sustainable future for our industry,” said Ben Lux, chief technology officer of ACTEGA.

The ink has been commercially validated by NextGen Label Group™, whose technical team successfully integrated it into the production of beverage labels for their client Waiākea, following a rigorous process of testing and printing trials.

While the Algae Black™ pigment is currently limited to black shades, this project enabled Waiākea to replace 100% of its black ink with ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink, marking a significant milestone in brand adoption of emerging technologies to reduce carbon emissions in consumer products.

Further color innovations are under development. Early brand investments, such as this first commercial application, help support Living Ink's ongoing R&D efforts to expand its portfolio of bio-based pigments in the future.

ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink is now available for trials and commercial orders from ACTEGA. It is compatible with conventional UV flexographic systems. Initially offered in North America and the European Union, with plans to expand to other regions, packaging converters and brand teams can request samples and technical support directly from ACTEGA.

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Image Credits: ACTEGA