Living Ink Technologies
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBerthoud, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Living Ink Technologies does
Living Ink Technologies is a Colorado-based materials company that produces black pigments and printing inks from discarded algae biomass, offering a carbon-negative alternative to petroleum-based carbon black for packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, and coatings. Its core technology converts waste algae into a high-performance black pigment via a process certified at -4.16 kg CO2-equivalent per kilogram, supported by Life Cycle Assessment. The product portfolio centers on two flagship offerings — ALGAE BLACK™ pigment and ALGAE INK™ printing inks — plus ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, a UV flexographic ink co-developed with ACTEGA that became commercially available in March 2026 as the first such product in the market.
Living Ink Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Living Ink Technologies
- Legal name
- Living Ink Technologies
- Website
- https://livinginktechnologies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Living Ink Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Bio-based Pigments and Inks
- NAICS
- Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513), Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (325130), Printing Ink Manufacturing (32591)
- SIC
- Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carbon Black & Bulk Pigments (IMAEAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive) (IMAEAHAI), Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite) (IMAEAFAO), Sustainable Labels, Adhesives & Inks (Wash-Off Labels, De-inkable Inks, Low-VOC) (IMALAMAJ), Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG)
Keywords
Where Living Ink Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berthoud
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Living Ink Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Algae Black Pigment Sales: Living Ink sells its proprietary algae-derived black pigment (Algae Black™) directly to manufacturers and brands for use in their products across packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, and paints industries.
- Algae Ink Product Sales: The company sells finished printing ink products (Algae Ink™) to printing companies and brand owners for use in commercial printing applications.
- Licensing to Partners: Living Ink provides its algae-based pigment technology to partners like ACTEGA for incorporation into commercial ink formulations (ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink), generating licensing and supply revenue.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Living Ink Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Living Ink Technologies manufactures and sells Algae Black™ black pigment and Algae Ink™ printing inks produced from discarded algae cells via an LCA-backed, carbon-negative process, serving as a direct replacement for petroleum-based carbon black across packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, and paints. Through an OEM partnership with ACTEGA, the company also supplies pigment for ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, the first commercially available UV flexographic ink using carbon-negative algae-based pigment.
Product overview
Living Ink Technologies is a technology company that creates sustainable black pigments and printing inks from discarded algae cells, replacing petroleum-based carbon black. The company's product portfolio centers on two flagship offerings: ALGAE BLACK™ pigment and ALGAE INK™ printing inks, which are produced through an LCA-backed, carbon-negative process that repurposes renewable biomass waste. These products serve diverse industries including packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, and paints. The company also partnered with ACTEGA to launch ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, the first commercially available UV flexographic ink using algae-based pigment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ALGAE INK™: Printing inks made from discarded algae cells, replacing petroleum-based black color for packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, paints, and beyond.
- ALGAE BLACK™
Products and services
- ALGAE BLACK™ Pigment Black pigment derived from discarded algae cells that replaces petroleum-based carbon black pigment. Produced through a carbon-negative process using renewable biomass waste and sold to manufacturers and brands across packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, and paints.
- ALGAE INK™ Printing Inks Printing inks made from discarded algae cells that replace traditional petroleum-based black inks. Delivers climate-smart color options for packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, paints, and other industries.
- ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink First commercially available UV flexographic ink formulated with Living Ink's carbon-negative Algae Black™ pigment, certified at -4.16 kg CO2-equivalent per kilogram. Developed in partnership with ACTEGA and NextGen Label Group for beverage, label, and consumer packaging printing applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Replacing global supply of petroleum-based black pigment with algae-based ink could prevent/remove 100+ million metric tons of CO₂e annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Living Ink Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Living Ink Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Living Ink Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.
- ACTEGAcoreACTEGA partnered with Living Ink Technologies to develop and commercialize ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, the first commercially available UV flexographic ink using carbon-negative algae-based pigment. ACTEGA incorporates Living Ink's algae pigment into their commercial ink formulations, which are distributed to printing companies in North America and Europe.
- NextGen Label GroupcoreNextGen Label Group served as the commercial printer for validating and producing beverage labels using ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink for Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages, marking the first large-scale commercial application of the technology.
- Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic BeveragesflagshipWaiākea sponsored and co-developed the algae-based ink technology over five years and became the first company to commercialize algae-based beverage labels. The company is open-sourcing the technology through partners to enable widespread adoption across the CPG industry.
- NikeNike incorporates Living Ink's algae-based ink in products including the ISPA Algae Ink Bow sneaker, demonstrating the technology's viability for athletic footwear applications.
- PatagoniamajorPatagonia uses Living Ink's algae ink in printed materials and product hangtags as part of the brand's sustainability initiatives.
- VollebakmajorVollebak created the BLACK ALGAE JACKET using Living Ink's algae-based pigment, representing a flagship application of the technology in innovative outdoor apparel.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Living Ink Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cabot Corporation: Global leader in carbon black manufacturing across rubber, plastics, coatings, and printing ink applications. Direct incumbent in the carbon black market Living Ink is targeting for displacement, with vastly larger scale and R&D resources.
- Birla Carbon: One of the world's largest carbon black producers, supplying pigments and reinforcing carbons to tire, coatings, and ink customers. The dominant petroleum-based incumbent whose volumes Living Ink is positioning to replace with algae-derived alternatives.
- Orion S.A. Global specialty chemicals company producing carbon black for inks, coatings, polymers, and batteries. A direct incumbent in specialty carbon black grades that overlap with Living Ink's high-end pigment use cases.
Direct peers
- Sun Chemical: World's largest producer of printing inks and organic pigments, supplying packaging, commercial, and publication printers. Most direct peer in the printing ink space, with established CPG and label-printer relationships globally.
- ACTEGA (ALTANA): Specialty inks, coatings, and sealants manufacturer that is Living Ink's industrial partner — co-developing ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink. Functions as both partner and adjacent competitor in UV flexographic ink formulations for CPG labels.
- Siegwerk: Leading supplier of printing inks for packaging and label applications, with deep expertise in UV flexographic and sustainable ink systems. Competes with Living Ink's downstream ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink in the same CPG label customer base.
- Sakata INX: Major global manufacturer of offset, gravure, flexographic, and digital printing inks, including sustainable and bio-based ink lines for packaging and labels. Direct competitor in the sustainable printing ink market Living Ink targets.
- Flint Group: Global supplier of printing inks, coatings, and consumables to packaging and commercial printers. Active in sustainable ink development and a direct competitor in the flexographic and UV printing ink categories where ACTExact competes.
- Toyo Ink (Artience): Japanese manufacturer of printing inks, pigments, and coatings with global packaging ink footprint. Comparable in serving CPG label and packaging customers with ink formulations, including sustainability-focused product lines.
Emerging players
- Colorifix: UK-based biotech producing bio-based textile dyes using engineered microorganisms. Closest emerging-stage peer pursuing biological alternatives to petroleum-derived colorants in the apparel and textile market Living Ink also targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Living Ink Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceLiving Ink Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Living Ink Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Living Ink Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Living Ink Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Living Ink Technologies
What does Living Ink Technologies do?
Living Ink Technologies manufactures and sells Algae Black™ black pigment and Algae Ink™ printing inks produced from discarded algae cells via an LCA-backed, carbon-negative process, serving as a direct replacement for petroleum-based carbon black across packaging, footwear, textiles, cosmetics, and paints. Through an OEM partnership with ACTEGA, the company also supplies pigment for ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink, the first commercially available UV flexographic ink using carbon-negative algae-based pigment.
Is Living Ink Technologies a public or private company?
Living Ink Technologies is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Living Ink Technologies founded?
Living Ink Technologies was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Living Ink Technologies based?
Living Ink Technologies is headquartered in Berthoud, United States, in the North America region.
How does Living Ink Technologies make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Algae Black Pigment Sales are the primary driver. The others are algae Ink Product Sales and licensing to Partners.
Who are Living Ink Technologies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cabot Corporation, Birla Carbon and Orion S.A.. Direct peers are Sun Chemical, ACTEGA (ALTANA), Siegwerk, Sakata INX, Flint Group and Toyo Ink (Artience). Colorifix is listed as an emerging player.
Does Living Ink Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Living Ink Technologies.
What industry is Living Ink Technologies in?
Living Ink Technologies's product category is Sustainable Bio-based Pigments and Inks. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAAAF, Carbon Black & Bulk Pigments, with a secondary code of IMAEAHAI, Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive). Its NAICS code is 32513 and its SIC code is 2810.