Printing ink extracted from coffee wins the Sustainable Innovations competition at PacTec Fair

The water-based ink was jointly developed by Natural Indigo Finland, Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), and Siegwerk, utilizing a bio-based pigment extracted from waste coffee supplied by Meira. The development has also been supported by Adara Pakkaus. The product contains no VOC compounds, and its binder system is Siegwerk’s BRC varnish based on renewable raw materials. 

The project’s first proof-of-concept was published in May 2025, when Cabassi printed on Paptic® material using the coffee-based ink. Since then, TAMK’s Biocolores research group has improved the technical performance and color strength of the ink, demonstrating the viability of the bio-based colorants. 

– The deciding factor for the jury was that the Natural Indigo Finland project has created new value within an already existing business, stated jury representative Antro Säilä, CEO of the Finnish Packaging Association. 

The innovation is also showcased in the Uusi puu project’s “New wood: Building a Bio-Based Future” exhibition at The Garrison Chapel in London, 9–27 March 2026. 

The Sustainable Innovations competition seeks the most interesting innovations in the packaging, food, and plastics industries where sustainability plays a key role. The categories cover products and services from the packaging, food, and plastics sectors. 

Kai Lankinen, head of the TAMK's Biocolores research group, says that the processing of side streams into valuable dyes has been studied for a long time.

– Our collaboration shows how applied science can turn waste into real value. This innovation has great potential in packaging printing, a market worth hundreds of billions of euros. Our goal is to scale the solution globally, says Lankinen.

An expert panel selected three finalists from the applicants, who then pitched their ideas at the PacTec, FoodTec and PlastExpo Nordic event. Based on these pitches, the winner was chosen, receiving a €5,000 prize donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation. The other finalists this year were Sumi Oy with its SumiOn reporting system, and Finbelt Oy’s CaproCycle, which combines mechanical and chemical recycling and unlocks the circular value of multilayer plastic waste.