ACTEGA, a global specialist in inks and coatings, and Living Ink Technologies, has launched ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, the first commercially available UV flexographic ink formulated with carbon-negative Algae Black pigment. The launch comes in tandem with its first commercial application: beverage labels printed by NextGen Label Group for Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages.
The innovation was sponsored and supported by Waiākea, which earlier this year announced it would be the first food and beverage 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.
A Sustainable Future
“Waiākea has tested and co-developed a number of sustainable inks and rigid materials over the last decade,” said Ryan Emmons, Co-Founder and CEO of Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages. “None have met the performance standards and the carbon-reduction potential needed for widespread adoption. ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink finally checks both boxes.”
Building on that concept, ACTEGA and Living Ink Technologies entered into a joint development agreement in 2024 and collaborated with Waiākea 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.
Their goal: to bring a high-performance, UV-curable flexo ink to market that meets the print industry’s rigorous technical demands while dramatically reducing carbon emissions.
ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink is the latest addition to ACTEGA’s ACTExact product family — flexographic inks designed for improved press performance, consistency, and ease of use. The new formulation integrates Living Ink’s Algae Black 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 CO₂-equivalent per kilogram of pigment.
“Algae Black pigment was developed to reimagine how color can serve the planet,” said Dr. Scott Fulbright, CEO and Co-founder of Living Ink Technologies. “Our long-term collaboration with ACTEGA demonstrates how industry leaders can unite innovation and impact to deliver scalable, sustainable solutions.”
While Algae Black pigment is currently limited to black-only options, this project replaced 100 percent of Waiākea’s black ink with ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, marking a milestone example for brand adoption of emerging carbon-saving technologies in consumer packaged goods.
