ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, claimed to be the first commercially available UV flexo ink formulated with carbon-negative Algae Black pigment, has been launched by Actega.
Developed with bio-based pigment innovator Living Ink Technologies, the product has been used by NextGen Label Group to print a first commercial application: beverage labels for client Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages, which has been partnering with Living Ink Technologies on R&D towards such an application for five years.
“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.
“There was no better combination of partners whose excellence, dedication, and commitment to the mission could have brought this innovation to life.”
Actega began working with Living Ink Technologies and through a joint development agreement in 2024, collaborating with Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages to advance the formulation. The project combines bio-based pigment expertise with advanced coating technology, ink formulation capabilities and a nationally distributed beverage brand, to bring the idea to scale.
ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink uses Living Ink’s Algae Black pigment, which is derived from discarded algae biomass. A third-party Life Cycle Assessment has shown it to be carbon-negative, with a net footprint of -4.16kg CO2-equivalent per kilogram of pigment.
The ink was commercially validated by NextGen Label Group, following a rigorous testing and press trial process. The ink is currently only available in a black option, but additional colour innovations are said to be under development, and Living Ink said that early brand investment such as that offered by Waiākea can help support its ongoing R&D efforts “to assist efforts to scale a broader range of bio-based pigments in the future”.
ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink is available for trials and bulk ordering through Actega, compatible with conventional UV flexo systems. Initial availability is in North America and the European Union, with additional geographic rollouts planned.
