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 their environmental impact without compromising print quality.This ink is based on Living Ink Technologies' Algae Black™ pigment and replaces conventional petroleum-derived carbon black with a carbon-negative pigment made from recycled algae biomass.
Why Algae? Turning Waste Into Value
The Algae Black™ pigment is produced using a carbon-negative process developed by Living Ink Technologies: algae biomass waste is pyrolyzed, refined, and purified into a high-performance black pigment. Conventional black ink has a product carbon footprint (PCF) of 4.27 CO2e. ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink reduces this value 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 of gasoline, 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 and measurable environmental compatibility. The ink is fully compatible with conventional UV flexographic printing systems 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 and refinement, the algae are converted into a high-purity black pigment that delivers deep, rich coloration. With ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink, converters benefit from seamless UV flexo integration and a significantly lower carbon footprint, making it a smarter, more sustainable solution for both production and the planet.
Discover where the Black Pigment was developed. Living Ink Technologies offers additional information about the process.
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 production through its integration into Waiākea's label printing, led by NextGen Label Group™. The project saw the brand's previous black ink replaced 100%, demonstrating that the CO2-saving algae-based technology can be used at scale without compromising performance. This partnership is in line with Waiākea's commitment to environmental protection. Waiākea is strengthening its circular economy goals by using ACTExact® UV Black Algae Ink, which supports responsible material selection and 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.