Black pigment news — sources reviewed to 22 October 2026
Innovation in Textiles reported on 20 October 2026 that Living Ink’s Algae Black had been included in the Sustainability category of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026. Ink World covered the recognition on 15 October. The development brings attention to a renewable black pigment route and the use of different feedstocks in product colouration supply chains.
A black pigment made using biological waste
Living Ink describes a process using waste algae and other biological streams, including brewery yeast. The company presents Algae Black as a renewable pigment and reports commercial uses in apparel and packaging. Its descriptions of carbon-negative production and compatibility with existing equipment remain company claims. Inclusion in TIME’s list is not, by itself, technical certification of product performance or independent verification of every environmental claim.
Why this is different from a general carbon black grade announcement
The news concerns a different feedstock route for black colourants, rather than confirmed replacement of every industrial carbon black grade. Colour pigments, rubber reinforcing fillers and conductive additives serve different requirements. Successful use in packaging printing therefore cannot automatically be extended to tyres, cables or every coating system. Likewise, a biological feedstock alone does not establish particle size, tint strength or dispersion quality.
For evaluation in coatings, inks or masterbatch, the practical questions begin with the actual formulation. How much pigment is needed to reach the required blackness? What happens to viscosity if the carrier or dispersant changes? Can the formulation retain its intended undertone, surface appearance and storage stability? Useful answers require sample trials and clear comparison criteria, rather than reliance on the feedstock name or an award.
Supply assessment should also bring feedstock documentation, batch specifications and delivery capacity together with application results. This report does not establish product availability or pricing in Iran, and it does not indicate a supply relationship or cooperation between Living Ink and Gohar Farayand.
Related reading: black pigment and micronized carbon black selection guide.
Brief analysis from Gohar Farayand
Competition in black pigments is expanding to include feedstock origin and documented sustainability. Any biological alternative still needs consistent colour, suitable processing behaviour, acceptable cost in use and performance verified for its intended application.
Sources: Innovation in Textiles, 20 October 2026; Ink World, 15 October 2026; Living Ink’s official announcement.
The accompanying image is a conceptual pigment illustration, not a documentary photograph of Algae Black.