Algae ink can become sustainable trouser dye

Dyeing accounts for a large part of the environmental impact of clothing production and requires large amounts of chemicals, water and energy. Now there is a locally produced solution. An ink made from algae that is both non-toxic and fully biodegradable.

The start-up Mounid, with Ida Näslund at the helm, has been selected as a finalist in the Innovation Power competition with its business idea around algae ink. It was during her studies in pattern design and textile printing that Ida Näslund needed a solution to the challenge of finding a sustainable color.

-"I started to think of my own solutions and algae was in my mind and when I got in touch with a designer who worked with algae, I also got access to researchers in algae and chemistry who got started on the idea," she says to the Innovation Power competition.

The algae ink has several advantages in terms of both the environment and health, with no harmful substances and no competition with arable land. Ida Näslund is currently developing her business idea with the support of our startup incubator and Wargön Innovation, among others.