Crocs Launches First Four-Color Retail Packaging with Algae Ink
Credit: EcoEnclose
Crocs and Living Ink Technologies, two Colorado-based companies, have joined forces to bring a renewable ink innovation to retail shelves across the country. Through a partnership facilitated through sustainable packaging leader EcoEnclose, Crocs' Jibbitz™ charm boxes are now printed in standard four-color (CMYK) process with Algae Ink™—a bio-based ink made black with carbon-negative, algae waste pigment.
BERTHOUD, COLORADO — Crocs is widely known for turning footwear into a canvas of self-expression through its array of colorways and iconic Jibbitz™ charms. And now, the packaging that carries those charms is making a statement of its own. Since August 2023, every Crocs Jibbitz charm box has featured Algae Ink™ as part of its packaging process, with roughly 3.2 million boxes printed to date.
This builds on Crocs' earlier algae-powered packaging shift: also since 2023, select Crocs retail bags have featured Algae Ink™ printing, marking the brand's first commercial use of bio-based pigment in packaging.
In a first-of-its-kind commercial application, this box partnership uses Algae Ink as the black component in full CMYK process artwork—demonstrating that brands can integrate Algae Ink's innovative, black material without compromising design fidelity or visual impact.
"Packaging plays a critical role in the customer experience—and is one of the most overlooked opportunities to drive climate impact and tell a brand's sustainability story. This partnership with Crocs demonstrates that scalable, sustainable solutions can be seamlessly integrated without sacrificing quality. We're inspired by Crocs' 'progress over perfection' mindset as they adopt our black Algae Ink within standard CMYK printing. At Living Ink, we're on a mission to replace carbon black across many industries—and these consumer-facing packaging projects are just the beginning." said Scott Fulbright, CEO and Co-founder of Living Ink Technologies.
The initiative aligns with Crocs' broader sustainability goals to tread more lightly and create a more comfortable world. In 2024, Crocs reduced the carbon footprint of its classic clog by 10% by incorporating bio-circular content into its Croslite™ compounds. The company's updated materials now include 25% bio-circular content—sourced from repurposed plant-based waste and certified by ISCC PLUS.
"When EcoEnclose brought the opportunity to partner with Living Ink on this project, I was ecstatic. The idea of being the first brand to incorporate black Algae Ink using a 4 color process was very exciting. As you can see by the palette of colors that our Classic Clog comes in, color and personalization shines brightly within our brand." said Amber Bochmann, Sr. Retail Operations Manager for Crocs.
The packaging partnership was made possible through the printing expertise of EcoEnclose, a fellow Colorado company and a national leader in sustainable packaging solutions. Their ability to bring Algae Ink into high-quality retail packaging for numerous global brands sets a new bar for how bio-based innovations can be deployed across branded materials.
Living Ink's patented pigment production process repurposes discarded algae biomass— sourced from the nutritional supplement industry—into stable, carbon-sequestering pigment. When formulated into printing inks, this pigment enables brands to reduce their reliance on petroleum-based materials and embed meaningful environmental value into their consumer-facing packaging designs.