Carbon black is a pigment used within the ink, textiles, plastics, and rubber industries. It is derived from heavy petroleum such as FCC tar, coal tar, or ethylene cracking tar. It is listed as a class 2b carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Thus, carbon black is hazardous to human health, causes environmental degradation, and is produced using finite resources.

Algae black is a bio-based, renewable, and safe carbon black alternative. Algae by-product material is transformed into tiny black pigments. These pigments are in the form of either a dry powder or liquid dispersion. [Source: Living Ink Tehnologies]

Technically, algae black can be a replacement any time carbon black is currently being used. As of today (2022), algae black is actively being used in flexographic ink, offset ink, and screen printing ink. Living Ink Technologies is also developing formulations that can be used in cosmetics, textiles, and dyes in plastics.

Unfortunately, algae black is currently unavailable for digital printing applications (toner or inkjet). Please reach out if you have a new idea for how your company wants to use algae black.

Soy and water-based describes the ink's "carrier" (the agent which carries pigment onto the printing substrate). The move from solvent carriers to water- and plant-based carriers was great for the environment. But pigments in these inks are still derived from fossil fuels.

Algae Ink is a leap forward in the landscape of sustainable inks, as its pigments are biorenewable, derived from algae (and, in fact, from waste generated by an algae fuel production facility). Algae Ink utilizes water or plant-based carriers and is the most renewable ink available today.

We have you covered. Whether you go through five million packages a year or just a few hundred, we can bring Algae Ink into your packaging strategy. Our minimum order quantity is 100 for shipping boxes, 500 for mailers, 60 rolls for water-activated tape, and 10,000 for retail packaging, marketing material, and notecards. We have no maximum limits - whatever your volumes, we can meet your needs.

No! Ecoenclose and Living Ink can use Algae Ink to print most paper-based substrates, some poly/plastic substrates, apparel/textiles, and more.

Regarding ink, "recyclability" refers to how easily recyclers can remove the ink from a recycled substrate during the repulping/melting and deinking process. Studies have shown that soy and water-based inks are easier and cleaner to deink than solvent-based inks. However, thus far, we have not been able to conduct studies on the deinking of water-based and soy-based inks utilizing algae pigments.

Regarding ink, "compostability" refers to how well a substrate composts with a specific type of printing ink. Most paper-based packages are considered compostable, even though inks used to print on them utilize fossil-fuel-derived pigments. This is because inks account for such a tiny percentage of the overall package's weight, and this minute amount of contamination is considered acceptable.

As composting becomes more common, we believe people must consider the impact of the small components of their packages, such as inks and adhesives. One reason we are so excited about Algae Ink is that the pigments (most of what is left on the package) are biorenewable, naturally biodegradable, and therefore safer for our soils.

Black Algae Ink does not fade.

Currently, black inkjet or toner ink is not available. As progress is made on this ink solution, we will share updates here.

A broader line of ink colors is being developed now that the feasibility and performance of black Algae Ink have been proved. No other colors are available, but as progress is made and new colors are released, we will share updates here.

Currently, Algae Ink is significantly more expensive to produce than standard, fossil-fuel-derived ink. This is partly because Algae Ink is still in its early stages and therefore produced in small quantities (compared to carbon black, which is ubiquitous and enjoys massive economies of scale). It is also because, as is the case in most industries, the cost of fossil fuels is low compared to the cost of producing alternatives derived from renewable sources.

We are confident that, over time, both of these trends will shift, and Algae Ink will become more and more cost-effective to produce. That said, because ink typically makes up a minimal volume of your packaging, it slightly impacts pricing. Depending on your design and solution, you may see a 1-5% increase in price when shifting to Algae Ink, a premium we are working hard to bring down by making Algae Ink more widely used.