Thanks for your interest in Living Ink! This FAQ page should help answer some general questions about our products.
What is Algae Black?
Algae Black is a bio-based, renewable, and safe carbon black alternative. Algae by-product material is transformed into small black pigments. These pigments are in the form of either a dry powder or liquid dispersion.
What is carbon black?
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 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.
What kind of products can Algae Black work in?
Algae Black pigments can be used to color ink, plastics, cosmetics and textile products.
Where is the algae grown that makes Algae Black? What is Algae by-product?
Living Ink uses by-product algae material grown at Earthrise Nutritionals, located in Imperial County, California. Algae is grown using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide and nutrients. Algae, such as spirulina, are grown for a blue colorant called phycocyanin, which is extracted and used as a natural food colorant. The remaining material is considered algae by-product. Living Ink uses this left-over material to make a bio-based black pigment.
Why are algae good for the environment?
Earthrise Nutritionals grows a type of algae called spirulina using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide from the air. Algae grow faster than terrestrial plants and are renewable. When algae grows it absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. Algae do not use traditional farmland, thus production it does not displace food production.
What is Algae Ink™?
Algae Ink™ is a unique, innovative, environmentally-friendly, specialty printing ink. It is similar to many traditional inks, except that the pigment component is complete bio-based and renewable. Depending on the type of ink, 2.5-20% of the ink is bio-based pigment.
What colors does Living Ink produce?
Exclusively black. However, our black is as black as traditional carbon black, while being resistant to UV light degradation (i.e. it doesn’t fade). Stay tuned for other colors from Living Ink, coming soon!
What types of products are available?
Algae Screen Printing Ink™ for Textiles (Soft Base and High Solids). A water-based screen printing ink for use on cotton, blends, and synthetic textiles.
Algae Screen Printing Ink™ for Fine Art Applications. A water-based screen printing ink for use on paper, wood, and other suitable materials.
Algae Offset Ink™. A vegetable-based offset ink suitable for use on coated or uncoated stock.
Algae Flexographic Ink™. A water-based ink suitable for corrugated and carton substrates
Algae Pigment™. A black pigment that is a renewable and ecofriendly substitute for carbon black.
Does Algae Ink™ need special printers to use?
Nope. It is easy to use. The chemists at Living Ink have developed ink formulations that allow Algae Ink™ to be stored, print and clean up just like traditional petroleum-pigmented ink. This means you can work with Living Ink’s printing partners or suggest Algae Ink™ for your next job with your current printer. Living Ink produces and distributes this specialty ink.
Do you have preferred printing partners?
Yes, we currently have two preferred printing partners, Ecoenclose and D&K Printing. We work with Ecoenclose for packaging projects and D&K printing for magazines, brochures, books and business cards. There is no difference in price compared to conventional printing when using these preferred printers. However, we are always looking to work with innovative, eco-friendly printers around the world.
What is the value of using Algae Ink™?
Algae Ink™ is the first commercially available ink with bio-based pigments. The pigments are renewable, safe, innovative and provide a compelling story-telling component to your printed materials.
Carbon Negative?
At large-scale production, algae black pigments are carbon negative. Algae absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and Living Ink “locks” that carbon in the bio-based black pigment for over 100 years.
Eco-facts?
Every 45 pounds of Algae Ink™ we produce keeps 22.5 pounds of petroleum (crude oil) from being used. That means that 22.5 pounds of oil can’t negatively impact our environment or our air. Additionally, because our ink is carbon negative, using a 45-pound bucket of Algae Ink™ can remove -59 kg of carbon dioxide or like planting four trees!