Jet Technologies to distributes Living Ink’s Carbon-negative algae black for Australian print market

AUSTRALIA – Jet Technologies has signed a distribution partnership with Living Ink Technologies, bringing the Algae Black carbon-negative pigment to the Australian market as a drop-in replacement for petroleum-based carbon black in flexographic, offset and UV-cured printing inks.

The partnership gives Australian converters and brands access to Algae Black pigment made from algae biomass waste without requiring major equipment changes or capital investment. 

The global carbon black market was valued at US$21.6 billion (AU$33.5 billion) in 2025, with petroleum-based feedstocks accounting for 63.2 percent of production. 

Living Ink’s algae-based alternative produces 200 percent lower carbon emissions compared to conventional carbon black, sequestering more CO₂ than it emits during production. 

How Algae Black Delivers Drop-In Performance Without Workflow Disruption

Living Ink’s Algae Black pigment is produced through a proprietary pyrolysis process that transforms algae waste from nutritional supplement farms into a high-performance pigment powder. 

The material has already been adopted by international brands including Nike, Patagonia, New Balance and Stella McCartney. 

A Life Cycle Assessment conducted under ISO 14040 standards confirmed a carbon footprint of -4.16 kg CO₂-eq per kg of pigment, accounting for CO₂ capture during algae growth, avoided landfill emissions, and displacement of fossil-based pigment. 

Scott Fulbright, CEO and co-founder of Living Ink Technologies, said that as demand grew for more sustainable alternatives across printing applications, partnerships like this were critical to making new technologies commercially accessible.

What Drop-In Replacement Means for Australian Commercial Printing Workflows

Living Ink’s products are designed as drop-in replacements, allowing printers to integrate bio-based alternatives into existing workflows without requiring significant equipment changes or capital investment. 

At launch, Jet Technologies will offer Living Ink’s flexographic Algae Ink range alongside conventional and UV-cured offset Algae Ink products, with opportunities to expand into specialised UV flexo technologies. 

Jack Malki, director of Jet Technologies, said there was increasing pressure on brands and manufacturers to reduce environmental impact across the entire supply chain, not just the product itself. 

He added that the partnership gave customers access to innovative bio-based ink technologies that could support sustainability goals while still meeting the performance and quality standards required in commercial printing environments.

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