Mālama i ka ʻĀina, to respect and care for the land, is a foundational value within the Hawaiian culture. Hawaiians have long embraced environmental protection and conservation through sustainable living. Waiākea® fully embraces this philosophy, building its brand around environmental responsibility, stewardship and mutual respect for the land.
In alignment with this mission, Waiākea incorporates a variety of sustainable packaging components including their Oceanplast® bottles made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET, spouted bulk boxes, and infinitely recyclable aluminum containers.
Deepening the Commitment to Sustainability
As part of NextGen Label Group’s commitment to Brand Custodianship we take a proactive, customer-centric approach. We engage with our customers on a regular basis, taking the time to truly understand their vision for the brand. Then, we focus on the details that bring that vision to life.
During a routine review of packaging materials, Waiākea asked NextGen to explore the potential of using Algae Ink™ in some part of the label printing process. Algae Ink, manufactured by Living Ink Technologies, is a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based inks and Waiākea saw a chance to further reinforce its commitment to their sustainability mission.
Evaluating Algae Ink: Research and Testing
As part of NextGen Label Group’s solutions-centric approach, we collaborated with Living Ink Technologies and ACTEGA to assess its viability for Waiākea’s label printing. Under the leadership of NextGen Label Group’s Chief Technical Officer, Paul Roux, the technical team launched a detailed evaluation process that included:
- Research into the ink’s material properties
- Technical qualifications to ensure compatibility with flexographic printing
- Controlled lab testing to analyze performance
- A full on-press trial run to validate results in real production settings
A Successful Implementation
Following a thorough validation process, Algae Ink was approved for use in production at NextGen Label Group. The first run of labels using the algae-based ink was successfully delivered to Waiākea. Supported by NextGen, Waiākea continues to address their sustainability initiatives and strengthen their role as a responsible steward of the environment.
To learn how NextGen Label Group’s commitment to Brand Custodianship can help drive your brand’s success, contact us today!
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