LIVING INK IS A BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH AND PRODUCT COMPANY DEVELOPING THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE COLOR PIGMENTS GROWN FROM ALGAE.
Source: LivingInkTech
I can approach this post from several directions. The first would be my love for t-shirts. The second would be my general frustration with the design of sneaker boxes. The third would be my recent discovery that ink is basically a toxin and the printing on packages for food could be leaching into my food. I think I’ll stop there because right now the writer in me is working on a script in my head where a hitman has made his method of death the use of ink on packages creating a difficult ability to track him down.
That should be funny, but it isn’t. I really do love my t-shirts, but the idea that the ink utilized could be a toxin that is absorbed into my skin when I’m running or when my kids are exercising is a bit disturbing. The likelihood of that actually happening isn’t great, but every time I wash those shirts and everyone washes these shirts that are made with petroleum based inks, there is run-off into our water. This also extends to sneaker boxes which are covered in ink and often find their way into landfills which creates even more run-off.
What if we as consumers demanded more from our favorite sneaker brands? What if we stopped buying tees from companies who don’t take into consideration the problems with petroleum based inks? This would require us to understand that we might have to pay a bit more, but it is worth it for the peace of mind that arrives from being a bit more environmentally conscious. With that said I’d like to challenge every brand to reach out to Living Ink for their supply chains and for their footwear and apparel. If there is a safer option shouldn’t that be the most important aspect? I’m writing this because like many people I didn’t know anything about ink as a toxin until I met Dr.Scott Fulbright last week. I immediately thought about all of the startup tee shirt companies in the sneaker industry. I then realized that I’ve never seen Nike, adidas or Under Armour talk about utilizing Living Ink in their supply chain or on their products. There has to be an introduction to the mainstream. When a group of scientists meet to discuss alternative sources for products it does very little because those meetings take place between likeminded individuals.
Maybe this post will hit someone at a brand or at a startup and inspire them to reach out to Living Ink.
Living Ink is a biomaterials company on a mission to use sustainable algae technologies to replace petroleum-derived products, such as ink. Currently, the majority of pigments used within industry are derived from petroleum, such as carbon black. We are changing the way pigments are made by using algae as colorants for ecofriendly Algae Ink™ products. We are commercializing the a black algae-based pigment that has a negative carbon footprint, bio-based, resistant to UV-light exposure and is safe.
The Living Ink Lab | 12635 E. Montview Blvd | Aurora, CO 80045