At Evergreen Climate Innovations, our mission is to catalyze high-potential startups that deliver climate impact. While producing and using more low-carbon power is a big part of the story and gets a lot of attention, there are incredible opportunities to decarbonize massive, hidden corners of our global supply chain for industrial products as well. That is why we are excited to discuss the investment we made last year in Living Ink.
Black pigment is everywhere—it’s in the ink on your delivery boxes, the dye on your favorite t-shirt, and even the plastics in your car. Currently, the world relies on carbon black for black pigment, which is made from fossil fuels; carbon black is also a major ingredient in tires and batteries as well. Over 15 million metric tons of carbon black are produced annually, emitting nearly 70 million metric tons of CO2. Companies that use carbon black are working to make their supply chains more sustainable without sacrificing performance.
For a sustainable alternative to succeed in this space, it must overcome three hurdles: 1) it needs to produce dramatically lower emissions, 2) be cost-competitive, and 3) be truly “drop-in.” Historically, bio-based pigments have struggled with UV stability (they fade) or particle size (struggle to meet color performance). We believe that for the industry to move away from petroleum-based inputs, the solution must perform so seamlessly that the end user can’t tell the difference.
Living Ink has cracked the code with their Algae Black™ pigment. By upcycling discarded algae —a waste byproduct from the nutritional supplement industry—they have created a much lower emissions carbon black pigment.
What makes Living Ink unique is their proprietary process that transforms renewable biomass into high-purity, jet-black particles. Living Ink’s technology ensures the pigment is stable, durable, and ready for high-performance applications like flexographic printing and screen printing. It is a literal “drop-in” replacement that is enabling brands like Nike and Patagonia to transition away from fossil fuels without changing their manufacturing lines. And, as the company scales up its production capacity, it has enormous room to grow from supplying black inks and pigments to carbon black for many other applications as well.
Caption: A Nike Collaboration with Billie Eilish, utilizing Living Ink pigment.
Living Ink co-founders Dr. Scott Fulbright and Dr. Stevan Albers met during their PhD studies at Colorado State University and have spent a decade refining their vision. We have seen how their grit, rigor, and ability to secure strong corporate partnerships have set them up for success and are proud to support the Living Ink team as they prove that the future of color is not found in oil, but in chemistry.
