Circular economy and sustainability
INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLEXOGRAPHIC INKS BASED ON ALGAL RAW MATERIALS
ALGAFLEX
Motivation
The printing industry is facing increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable solutions and reduce the use of fossil-based compounds. Although water based flexographic inks represent an improvement, they still rely on synthetic derivatives that generate environmental impacts and pose challenges in waste management. This situation highlights the need to develop truly biobased alternatives with a lower ecological footprint.
At the same time, the massive proliferation of algae along the Spanish coastline, particularly evident in 2025, has become an environmental problem, but also an opportunity to valorize this biomass. When properly utilized, these algae can be transformed into functional raw materials for the development of more sustainable inks. This concept underpins the ALGAFLEX project, which aims to turn problematic waste into an ecological solution for the printing sector.
Objectives
The main objective of the project is to transform algal biomass, a renewable, abundant and currently problematic resource, into innovative and more environmentally friendly water based flexographic inks. By taking advantage of the functional compounds present in algae, the project seeks to develop formulations that not only reduce environmental footprint, but also meet the demanding requirements of industrial printing, including good stability, suitable rheological behavior, adhesion and excellent color quality.
Expected results
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Biobased, water based flexographic inks developed from valorized algal biomass.
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Compatibility with multiple substrates, paper, plastic films and textiles.
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Performance aligned with the requirements of demanding sectors such as textiles, packaging and graphic arts.
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Significant reduction in dependence on fossil-based resources.
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Demonstration that sustainability can drive genuine innovation within the industry.
Grant number: PENDING
Programme: Plan of non-economic activities 2026
Period of execution: January 2026 – December 2026
Status: In progress
More information: PLAN OF ACTION
Entity: IVACE
Project supported by the Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism of the Generalitat Valenciana, through IVACE.
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R&D AREAS
New high-performance functionalised materials
Circular economy and sustainability
Advanced manufacturing, smart textiles and digitalisation
High value-added solutions for strategic markets
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NEWS
AITEX is present at the Babykid FIMI fair at Feria Valencia from January 26 to 28, presenting tests and certifications for children’s products.
AITEX has attended the Cosmetorium fair in Barcelona once again on October to present its new products for the cosmetic sector.
AITEX has hosted the LIFE POLITEX workshop entitled “Closing the textile polyester cycle: challenges and opportunities”, based on promoting sustainable solutions for the management and recycling of textile materials.