ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink
A Climate‑Smart Black Ink for Modern Packaging
ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink is another step forward in ACTEGA's commitment to offering sustainable, high-performance solutions that help brands reduce theirenvironmental impact without compromising print quality.This ink is based on Living Ink Technologies' Algae Black™pigment and replaces conventional petroleum-derived carbonblack with a carbon-negative pigment made from recycledalgae biomass.
Discover where the Black Pigment was developed. Living Ink Technologies offers aditional information about the process.
Why Algae? Turning Waste Into Value
The Algae Black™ pigment is produced using a carbon-negative process developedby Living Ink Technologies: algae biomass waste is pyrolyzed, refined, and purifiedinto a high-performance black pigment. Conventional black ink has a productcarbon footprint (PCF) of 4.27 CO₂e. ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink reduces thisvalue to just 1.66 CO2e and reduces emissions by 2.61 CO₂e through renewable, bio-based pigment technology.
Visual comparisons illustrate this: 1 kg of CO₂e ≈ 3.7 km of driving, 0.5 liters ofgasoline, or 16 cups of tea.
Built for Real Production: A Better Black for the Planet
ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink was developed for converters who expect both uncompromising performance andmeasurable environmental compatibility. The ink is fully compatible with conventional UV flexographic printingsystems and can be used as a true replacement without any changes to equipment, workflows, or operator training.This compatibility ensures that sustainability benefits never come at the expense of productivity or print quality.
Behind this performance is a specially developed pigment. Through a carbon-negative process of pyrolysis andrefinement, the algae are converted into a high-purity black pigment that delivers deep, rich coloration. WithACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink, converters benefit from seamless UV flexo integration and a significantly lowercarbon footprint, making it a smarter, more sustainable solution for both production and the planet.
Our long‑term collaboration with ACTEGA demonstrates how industry leaders can unite innovation and impact to deliver scalable, sustainable solutions.
CEO & Co-Founder, Living Ink Technologies
Commercial Validation with Waiākea
ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink has been successfully proven in real-world productionthrough its integration into Waiākea's label printing, led by NextGen Label Group™.The project saw the brand's previous black ink replaced 100%, demonstrating thatthe CO2-saving algae-based technology can be used at scale without compromisingperformance. This partnership is in line with Waiākea's commitment toenvironmental protection. Waiākea is strengthening its circular economy goals byusing ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink, which supports responsible material selectionand measurable climate impact.
Algae Black is proof that innovation and responsibility can scale together. We’ve spent over a decade working on a more sustainable packaging alternative, and partnering with ACTEGA helped us make it commercially viable.
CEO and Co-Founder, Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages
Ready to reduce your footprint without changing your process?
Talk to your ACTEGA expert today.