The small batch coffee and bottled water company Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages is looking to make its packaging more sustainable by using algae-based ink.
No stranger to eco-friendly innovation, Waiākea was the first beverage company to use 100% postconsumer recycled plastic back in 2012. Now, the brand is marking another first by becoming the first to print labels with algae-based ink. The sustainable ink took four years to develop and was created in partnership with Living Ink Technologies, Actega, and NextGen Label Group. ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink is a much more sustainable ink option because traditional carbon black-based ink is derived from petroleum. According to Waiākea, if all black pigment were replaced with the algae-based ink, it would be the same effect as taking 25 million cars off the road.
Image Credit: Wai?kea
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Algae-based Materials
- A shift toward algae-derived raw materials is enabling low-carbon alternatives to petroleum-based pigments and polymers, offering a new feedstock for sustainable product components.
- Sustainable Packaging Inks
- Growing demand for eco-friendly labeling is accelerating development of bio-based inks that reduce lifecycle emissions and reshape sourcing for printing supplies.
- Bio-based Supply Chains
- Integration of biological inputs like algae into supply networks is creating opportunities for vertically integrated producers and localized material sourcing models.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Beverage Packaging
- Bottled drink brands adopting algae-based labels can lower packaging carbon footprints and differentiate on sustainability credentials in a crowded market.
- Printing and Labeling
- Label manufacturers switching to bio-derived inks are positioned to disrupt commodity pricing and regulatory compliance dynamics within the print supply chain.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care
- Personal care companies using algae-based pigments and containers could create cleaner ingredient narratives and reduce dependence on petrochemical-derived packaging.
