Living Ink has created an algae-based ink that serves as a sustainable substitute for petroleum-derived products. When compared to the commonly used carbon black, this ink leads to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 200 percent.
Ink plays a ubiquitous role in our surroundings, with nearly everything requiring its use. The production of black ink using carbon black is akin to releasing more than 8 million balloons filled with pure CO². Therefore, the impact of a sustainable ink on climate change should not be underestimated. Algae-based ink has the potential to serve as a sustainable substitute for petroleum-derived products.
Living Ink, established by Dr. Scott Fulbright and Dr. Steve Albers in 2013, has created an algae-based ink with a negative carbon footprint that is compostable and UV light resistant. In contrast to the conventional use of carbon black, algae-based ink leads to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 200 percent.
In 2015, Dr. Scott Fulbright delivered a TedxMileHigh talk on this topic, which is certainly worth viewing:
From Algae to Ink
Algae utilize carbon dioxide and sunlight to generate oxygen, with over half of the oxygen we breathe in a deep breath being produced by algae. Essentially, algae play a crucial role in sustaining our lives. Additionally, algae grow rapidly and are available in a variety of colors, making them ideal for sustainable ink production. Another benefit is that algae do not require fertilizers, herbicides, or genetically modified seeds.
To produce ink from algae, the algae must be cultivated in controlled containers and then processed. Plant-based ingredients are incorporated to finalize the ink formula. This ink can be used for printing on paper, cardboard, and even cotton textiles. Being 100 percent biodegradable, it can be disposed of in a compost pile and will degrade within a few days.
The algae-based ink can undergo processing similar to any other ink, from initiation to completion. Furthermore, a study conducted by the Rochester Institute of Technology revealed that black algae ink is not only darker in shade but also more UV light resistant compared to traditional carbon black ink. Additionally, some printers have noted that it is simpler to clean off the flexographic plate when using algae-based ink as opposed to traditional inks.
Algae-based ink can be incorporated into various types of ink, such as flexographic, lithographic, gravure, and potentially digital applications, and can be printed on nearly every packaging substrate.
“The World’s First Time-Lapse Ink”
During the initial stages of Living Ink research, the developers of the ink formula found that algae-based ink undergoes color changes over time. Additionally, they introduced a second ink technology where living algae cells serve as the ink, growing over time when exposed to light. These inks are living entities, presenting intriguing opportunities such as gift cards with surfaces that evolve over time.
In 2017, Living Ink was granted a National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant to advance bio-based pigments for ink. More recently, on September 19, 2019, they were honored with the "Product Breakthrough of the Year Award" by the Algae Biomass Organization.
