Algae lime paint for greener future

The paint industry is shifting as consumers increasingly choose eco-friendly options due to health and environmental concerns over traditional paints' volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This demand is driving the sustainable paint market's rapid growth. It is likely to reach a valuation of US$213.83 billion by 2033.

Leading this change is Algae Lime Paint, a startup by Daffodil International University students Jahra Nanziba Purna, Kasshaf Ahmed Mugdho, and Galib Bin Shahadat. Leveraging their environmental science background and hands-on experience, they have developed an innovative paint to benefit both people and the planet.

The Daily Star(TDS): What inspired your eco-friendly paint company? 

Algae Lime Paint (ALP): The idea sparked after we read an article that mentioned how algae can absorb more carbon dioxide than trees. We started wondering if we could use that natural ability of algae in a practical, everyday product. Then the concept of algae lime paint began to take shape. By combining algae with lime, we saw an opportunity to create a paint that can actively contributes to reducing CO₂.

Founders of Algae Lime Paint

TDS: What is your startup's core mission and long-term vision?

ALP: Our core mission is to use nature-based solutions to fight climate change and create healthier living environments. As a part of the solution we want to make paint by combining sustainability, innovation, and design. Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions while promoting safer, toxin-free products. We hope to shift the paint industry toward more sustainable, climate-conscious solutions.

TDS: What makes your paint environmentally friendly ?

ALP: Our paint is environmentally friendly because it's made from natural, renewable materials, mainly algae and lime. Unlike conventional paints, ours contains no harmful chemicals or VOCs. We use all-natural pigments like henna powder, beetroot powder, and moringa powder for colouring, avoiding synthetic dyes. Plus, the paint is biodegradable and sustainably produced.

On the manufacturing side, we have developed a low-energy, water-based process that reduces environmental footprint. Additionally, our method uses minimal processing to preserve the natural benefits of algae and lime.

Paintings demonstrated by Algae Lime Paint

TDS: How does your paint's durability, coverage, and color vibrancy compare to conventional paints?

ALP: Durability is one of the biggest challenges we face because our paint doesn't contain synthetic additives or preservatives common in conventional paints. The paint typically lasts about 2–3 months outdoors and 5–6 months indoors. However, algae lime paint offers good coverage and a natural, vibrant colour palette thanks to all-natural pigments. We are continuously researching ways to improve durability while keeping the formula natural and eco-friendly.

TDS: Can you describe your paint's lifecycle, and the challenges in sourcing sustainable raw materials?

ALP: Our paint's life cycle begins with sourcing natural, renewable raw materials, including algae that we culture ourselves and natural pigments. We carefully select these ingredients to ensure they are sustainably harvested or grown with minimal environmental impact.

The production process is a complex and carefully controlled method. Culturing algae ourselves allows us to maintain quality and sustainability, but also presents challenges, especially in managing costs and ensuring the algae's longevity in the paint.

Throughout production, we focus on minimising waste, avoiding toxic solvents, and using energy-efficient methods.

TDS: How does your paint's cost compare to traditional and other eco-friendly paints?

ALP: Our algae lime paint is currently priced slightly higher than many traditional paints. Compared to other eco-friendly alternatives, our cost is competitive. The main factors affecting cost are cultivating algae ourselves and ensuring the paint remains natural without synthetic additives.

TDS: What have been your biggest challenges, and what are your goals for the next one to five years?

ALP: One of the biggest challenges we have faced is the lack of platforms to properly promote and showcase our innovation. As a young startup, it's difficult to compete with large industrial paint companies. We have faced challenges in educating people about the benefits of natural, sustainable paints. Many still compare us directly with commercial products that use synthetic chemicals for longer durability.

Over the next five years, our main goal is to improve the durability of our paint while keeping it fully natural. We hope to scale up production, secure certifications, make our product more affordable, and position algae lime paint as a viable, mainstream alternative in both local and global markets.