Material innovation company OCEANIUM has introduced OCEAN INK, a seaweed-based ink developed as a sustainable alternative to traditional art materials, now available through a partnership with Cass Art.
Founded by Karen Scofield Seal and Dr. Charlie Bavington, OCEANIUM is building a new material ecosystem centred on seaweed — one of the fastest-growing organisms on earth, capable of absorbing carbon and excess nutrients as it grows. With vast natural coverage across global oceans, the material is increasingly seen as a viable resource for future-facing industries.
Using a proprietary water-based extraction process, OCEANIUM refines components of seaweed sourced from the North Atlantic into usable materials without relying on harsh solvents. The approach is designed to maximise the value of each harvest while working in balance with marine environments.
The result is OCEAN INK, a fully biodegradable, non-toxic and microplastic-free ink suitable for drawing, painting, screen printing and experimental mark-making. Positioned as an alternative to conventional inks — which can introduce synthetic chemicals and microplastics into waterways — the material reflects a broader shift toward more responsible approaches to making.
“OCEAN INK is the result of our mission to maximise the value of seaweed and replace resource intensive and/or harmful products,”
said Karen Scofield Seal, CEO and co-founder of OCEANIUM.
“By working with sustainably sourced seaweed and water-based chemistry, we’ve developed a material that performs beautifully while aligning more closely with the environmental values shaping contemporary creative practice.”
The ink has already been tested within an artistic context. In 2025, it featured in Art for Your Oceans, a fundraising exhibition at Sotheby’s curated by Artwise, where artists including Anya Gallaccio, Caragh Thuring, Laura Ford and Emma Stibbon produced works using the material.
Now entering wider distribution through Cass Art stores and online, OCEAN INK marks a significant step in OCEANIUM’s ambition to scale seaweed-based materials beyond research and into everyday creative use.
As environmental concerns continue to reshape artistic production, OCEANIUM’s approach points to a future where material innovation is not only technical, but ecological — rooted as much in the ocean as in the studio.
OCEAN INK is available exclusively at Cass Art: cassart.co.uk
About
OCEAN INK® is a premium, water-based ink made from sustainably sourced seaweed. It is 100% biodegradable, VOC-free and non-toxic, and suitable for drawing, painting, screen printing and experimental creative techniques. OCEAN INK® is packaged in recyclable aluminium tins.
OCEANIUM is a materials innovation company unlocking the potential of seaweed. Working with sustainably sourced seaweed, the company uses proprietary water-based processing to transform seaweed into high-performance, materials and ingredients designed to replace resource-intensive and harmful alternatives. By combining marine science with commercial application, OCEANIUM’s mission is to maximise the value of seaweed while supporting ocean health and building scalable, responsible supply chains.
