Development of sustainable inks
Research project 2025 - 2028
Initial situation, project requirements
Dresden-based Octopus Fluids GmbH & Co. KG has been developing and producing specialised inks for three main areas of application since 2012: inkjet inks for desktop printers, creative inks and inks for industrial applications. The company has more than 500 independently developed formulas and employs six people, while organisation, sales, purchasing and accounting are covered by its sister company Octopus Concept GmbH, which has a further 15 employees.
In the creative sector, most of the company's ink formulations are already based on vegan raw materials in order to meet the critical requirements of artists. However, a vegan raw material is not automatically environmentally sustainable, as synthetic acrylic binders, for example, are produced without animal products, but often originate from petrochemicals. The production of these synthetic ingredients can generate environmentally harmful by-products. Furthermore, synthetic ingredients can cause allergic reactions in users and contribute to microplastic pollution, which has a negative impact on the product's life cycle and recyclability.
The market is moving strongly towards environmental sustainability, which is reflected in increasing customer enquiries. So far, we have been unable to respond adequately to this current trend due to a lack of personnel capacity and the fact that inks often consist of 5–10 components, all of which must be taken into account. In order to be able to describe inks as “green” or “ecologically sustainable”, the entire ink development process must be rebuilt from scratch with a focus on sustainability, which will remedy the lack of certainty about the origin, the manufacture using animal products or the poor environmental compatibility of individual components.
Regional relevance, labour market significance
The project is firmly anchored in Saxony at the Dresden site. By permanently hiring an academically qualified specialist (innovation assistant) with a degree in process and natural materials engineering, we are making a direct contribution to securing and strengthening the regional STEM labour market. The creation of this high-quality job counteracts the shortage of skilled workers and ensures an active transfer of knowledge from the university to a Saxon SME. The development of the ecologically sustainable ink series strengthens the company's innovation and competitiveness. The establishment of environmentally friendly production processes and products serves as a positive example for other Saxon SMEs and supports the goals of Saxony's regional policy to promote the green economy.
Specific objective
The primary objective of the three-year project is to develop an ecologically sustainable and vegan ink based on natural raw materials. During this time, the innovation assistant will undergo a complete product development process (planning, chemical testing, technical implementation) and lay the foundation for a specific product as well as for future product developments.
Secondary objectives include:
Further development of existing processes in the area of quality assurance and production through the efficient application of the innovation assistant's knowledge.
Examination of legal regulations (food compliance, skin compatibility, child safety) and planning of the necessary steps for the subsequent implementation of these requirements after the end of the project.
Distinction from other projects
This project is clearly distinct from our previous development activities. Earlier developments focused primarily on optimising functionality and switching to vegan raw materials, with the chemical components often remaining petrochemical in origin. The current project pursues a fundamental redesign of the ink formulation with an exclusive focus on ecological sustainability and natural ingredients. This is a distinct, innovative R&D project with the aim of creating a completely new product base, while our existing ranges (inkjet, industrial) will remain with their established formulations for the time being.
Experience of the sponsor with the target group and in the project area
Octopus Fluids GmbH & CO. KG is an experienced player in the field of research and development. Through its participation in numerous and diverse research projects (both industry-funded and publicly funded), the company has extensive experience in developing knowledge in fundamentally new subject areas. Our expertise includes, in particular, critical ink properties, raw material properties (e.g. dyes, solvents) and the successful transfer of formulations into production. This long-standing R&D experience provides an excellent foundation on which the innovation assistant can build and expand her knowledge specifically in relation to environmental sustainability.
References, consideration of existing results from previous projects
We can point to a track record of over 500 independently developed and produced formulations. The conversion of creative inks to vegan raw materials, which has already been completed, serves as an important preliminary project. The experience gained in this process with regard to the critical requirements of creative users and the necessary quality assurance measures (e.g. raw material screening, shelf life) will be directly incorporated into the planned project and reduce the initial project risk.