TAGS: Inks Environmentally Friendly Coatings
Living Ink develops a renewable bio-based carbon-negative ink using algae. Groups like algae farms will grow algae, and then extract a blue molecule used in the natural food colorant industry. Living Ink then processes it, refines it, and turns it black.
Greener Alternative Reduces Atmospheric CO2
When algae grow, all the green biomass produced is created using atmospheric CO
2. So, this means it captures CO
2 from the atmosphere to grow. By taking this material and performing a thermal treatment, Fulbright says it locks up that carbon for over 100 years. Thus, the material is carbon negative.
One reason algae works so well is that they’re already super small cells. This helps save energy for processing. According to Forbes, algae grow 10 times faster than other land-dwelling plants. It also requires a tenth of the land needed to produce create an equivalent amount of biomass.
Additionally, one of the biggest issues with bio-based black products is that they always turn out grayish or brown. But, Fulbright says Living Ink has achieved a “truly jet black colorant.” Currently, it’s also able to produce large amounts of green ink. In the future, Living Ink hopes to also develop a cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color palette to mix and make different colors. But, Fulbright notes, this is pretty high level.
“
It’s fun knowing that people can use a product that actually helped reduce climate change versus helping climate change continue down the road it’s on,” he told us.
Moving Towards Sustainable and Innovative Materials
Over the past year, there’s been a huge push for sustainable packaging from major companies like Hasbro. Similarly, the fashion industry has been taking steps to be more environmentally friendly and ethical after some backlash in the past. Fulbright says this is driven by two factors. One, companies are driven to achieve sustainability metrics. Secondly, it’s an excellent marketing opportunity.
“
From my experience with brands, everyone is trying to tell an innovative eco story that’s better than their competitor,” Fulbright said.
“And they’re trying to use both sustainable and innovative materials.”
Although many companies within these industries are adopting more eco-friendly practices, these efforts become nearly obsolete if a certain ink is added.
Source: Living Ink