Design Life-Cycle

 Kuro Sumi Eggplant Black Tattoo Ink Lifecycle: Materials

Skylar LaRoche

12/1/2021

DES 40A - Prof. Cogdell

Kuro Sumi is a popular brand of tattoo ink, in part due to its high quality, deep black inks.  We chose to focus on a color called “Eggplant Black,” an extremely dark and rich violet color that remains within the family of black inks which the company emphasizes. The company advertises that it is vegan friendly and does not test on animals. While this makes them appear environmentally conscious, many of their materials are derived from coal tar and fossil fuels.

The production of Eggplant Black Kuro Sumi Tattoo ink starts with production of the raw pigments and carrier ingredients. From there it is formulated, packaged, and shipped to tattoo artists, who use it on their clients. Each of these steps requires materials, however many products have similar packaging and shipping methods, so the most unique and important production materials are the various pigments and alcohols, as well as propylene glycol and witch hazel, which form the ink. 

The building blocks of a tattoo ink are its pigments and its carrying ingredients. The pigments give the ink the desired color while the carrying ingredients allow the ink to be in liquid form. A pigment is a colored substance, generally produced in a powdered form, which is used to color things such as paint, ink, plastic, cosmetics, and many more. In the case of tattoo ink, the pigments color the skin by being injected into the dermis by a needle. Kuro Sumi’s Eggplant Black tattoo ink contains 4 main pigments: Violet 23, White 6, Blue 15, and Carbon Black 6. 

Violet 23, also known as dioxazine violet or carbazole violet, is a cool, dark purple pigment. The color of this pigment is so strong that it can appear black in its undiluted state. It’s an organic compound synthesized from carbazoles, another organic compound which is found in coal tar. The process of synthesizing violet 23 from carbazoles is a long chemical process involving many washing/filtration processes that create large amounts of wastewater. 

White 6, also known as titanium white, is a stark, extremely bright white pigment. It is one of the most popular white pigments, especially when it is used in paints. It is produced from ilmenite and rutile, both of which are titanium dioxide minerals. There are two main processes used to purify these minerals, the chloride process and the sulfate process. Both of which extract extraneous compounds from the ore and yield titanium dioxide in purer form, ready to be used as a pigment. 

Blue 15, also known as phthalo blue or phthalocyanine blue, is a deep indigo color. Phthalo blue is another popular paint color because it faithfully recreates the color of a clear sky. There are a few methods used to synthesize copper (II) phthalocyanine, the chemical that makes up the pigment. One of which involves combining phthalimide, urea, copper (II) chloride dihydrate, and ammonium molybdate and adding heat, which creates some off-gas. 

Carbon Black 6, also known as acetylene black or lamp black, is a slightly cool black pigment. Lamp black is, again, a popular paint color.  It is essentially soot, the same kind you might find in a fireplace. However, commercial production relies on the partial combustion of petroleum oil or coal oil. This produces a concentrated carbon powder known as carbon black which is extremely dangerous to inhale. This powder is then used as a pigment.

In tattoo ink, carrier ingredients are solvent liquids used to carry the pigment(s) into the skin. They allow the powder pigments to be in a liquid form and they also keep the ink free from bacteria and other pathogens.

The ingredient “propylene glycerincol” is listed both on the safety data sheet for the ink and on the bottle itself as a carrier ingredient. However, this chemical does not appear to exist and this is likely a mistranslation or a misspelling of the chemical propylene glycol. Since propylene glycol can absorb water, it is used as an additive to preserve moisture in medicine, food, and cosmetics. It is also used as a food-safe antifreeze. There are a few ways to synthesize propylene glycol. One of the ways used commercially is to combine propylene oxide with water, evaporate the water and then distill the propylene glycol. Propylene oxide is made using other industrial chemical processes. 

Witch hazel is a shrub which is found and farmed in many parts of the world, including the USA, parts of east asia, and the UK. It can be grown using sustainable and organic methods, however this selling point is more important to the consumers buying witch hazel water and it’s best to assume Kuro Sumi sources their witch hazel from the cheapest manufacturer. In this case “witch hazel” does not refer to the plant itself, it refers to witch hazel water, an astringent product used in cosmetics and first aid. The desirable compounds of the plant are found in its bark, which is left to soak in water before being filtered out to extract the witch hazel water.

Isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) is an organic compound and a common disinfectant and antiseptic. It is primarily synthesized by allowing propylene to react with sulfuric acid, and subsequently putting it through hydrolysis. Isopropyl alcohol is used in hand sanitizers  and other cleaning products. It helps keep the tattoo ink sterile by killing any pathogens it may come into contact with.

Benzyl alcohol is another organic compound commonly used as a solvent. It is manufactured by the hydrolysis of benzyl chloride in the presence of soda ash. Soda ash (also known as sodium carbonate) was historically manufactured by burning plants that grew in soil with a high sodium content. Today, soda ash is produced by the filtration and concentration of trona ore, a sodium carbonate mineral.

Aqua (water) is also listed as a carrying ingredient. It is likely sourced from a reservoir or whatever water source is local to the manufacturing facility.

After all the raw materials have been acquired and the ink has been formulated, Kuro Sumi bottles and ships it to consumers and tattoo artists via their distributors. and One of our team members purchased a small bottle of the ink so we could get a look at how Kuro Sumi packages and ships its product. The ink arrived in 2 key pieces of packaging: a bottle and a small plastic bag. It also came in a bubble mailer envelope, however this may change depending on the distributor and the amount of product ordered.

The bottle and bottle cap were made of plastic which we reasoned could either be of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). I believe PET is the more likely option due to the bottle’s clear appearance and shiny finish. PET is a versatile plastic that is commonly used to make beverage bottles and polyester clothing and fabric. There are two main methods of synthesizing PET, the dimethyl terephthalate process and the terephthalic acid process, both of which involve the conversion of ethylene glycol into polyethylene terephthalate. PET is recyclable and due to its ubiquitous nature, it is one of the most recycled plastics.

The plastic bag was unmarked but likely to be made out of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE is a soft plastic used primarily to make plastic bags, packaging, and wire insulation. It is made by the compression, cooling, and polymerization of ethylene gas, which comes from natural gas and crude oil. LDPE is also recyclable, however, due to the nature of its use (disposable plastic bags and food packaging) I conjecture that it is thrown away far more often than it is recycled.

There are many more materials involved in the use of the ink, especially regarding tattoo machines which have many mechanized parts and electronic components. Besides the machines, tattoo artists use a plethora of other materials to keep the process steril, comfortable and easy. They use latex gloves, rubbing alcohol, distilled water, various tattoo needles, ink caps, razors, and extra carrying ingredients to thin the ink if needed. 

There are many materials that go into the formulation of kuro sumi ink, many of which have highly specific production processes. The only ingredient in the production of the ink that isn’t produced using a chemical industrial process is witch hazel. The use of coal tar and petroleum makes some of these ingredients particularly unsustainable.

Bibliography

Andrus, Thea. “Pigment of the Month: Phthalo Blue.” The Conservation Center, The Conservation Center, 26 June 2020, http://www.theconservationcenter.com/articles/2020/3/27/pigment-of-the-month-phthalo-blue.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "benzyl alcohol". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998, https://www.britannica.com/science/benzyl-alcohol. Accessed 1 December 2021.

“China Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink, Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink Manufacturers, Suppliers, Price | Made-in-China.Com.” Made-in-China.Com - Manufacturers, Suppliers & Products in China, https://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Kuro_Sumi_Tattoo_Ink.html. Accessed 23 Oct. 2021.

“Company Overview of China Manufacturer - Guangzhou Charm Color Company.” China Permanent Makeup Machine Manufacturer, Permanent Makeup Ink, Permanent Makeup Cream Micro Pigments Supplier - Guangzhou Charm Color Company, 13 Aug. 2021, https://yikemeimaoyi.en.made-in-china.com/company-Guangzhou-Charm-Color-Company.html.

David. “Kuro Sumi History: Ingredients, Company, Origins Told from a Distributors Perspective.” Hildbrandt Tattoo Supply, 24 Oct. 2012, https://www.tattoomachineequipment.com/kuro-sumi-history-ingredients-distributor.

Dickert, George M. “Witch Hazel.” Home & Garden Information Center | Clemson University, South Carolina, 7 Mar. 2012, https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/witch-hazel/.

“Eggplant Black Ink Safety Data Sheet” Kuro Sumi, 22 Oct. 2021

Gázquez, Manuel Jesús, et al. “Tio2 As White Pigment and Valorization of the Waste Coming from Its Production.” Titanium Dioxide (Tio₂) and Its Applications, 2021, pp. 311–335., https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-819960-2.00011-0.

Hou, ChingT. “Propylene Oxide Production from Propylene by Immobilized Whole Cells of Methylosinus SP.. CRL 31 in a Gas-Solid Bioreactor.” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol. 19, no. 1, 1984, https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00252808.

“How and Why Do Tattoos Fade? – INK the Original.” INK the Original, https://inktheoriginal.com/blogs/inkblog/how-and-why-do-tattoos-fade. Accessed 23 Oct. 2021.

“Is Your Tattoo Ink Safe?” Firstpost, Myupchar, 3 Jan. 2020, https://www.firstpost.com/health/is-your-tattoo-ink-safe-7778391.html.

Kawamoto, Katsuya, and Roland Weber. “Dioxin Sources to the Aquatic Environment: Re-Assessing Dioxins in Industrial Processes and Possible Emissions to the Aquatic.” Emerging Contaminants, vol. 7, Feb. 2021, pp. 52–62., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2021.01.002.

King, Hobart M. “Ilmenite.” Geology, https://geology.com/minerals/ilmenite.shtml.

King, Hobart M. “Rutile.” Geology, https://geology.com/minerals/rutile.shtml.

Köpnick, Horst, et al. “Polyesters.” Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2000, https://doi.org/10.1002/14356007.a21_227.

Moodie, Alison. “Tattoo Ink Contains Cancer-Causing Chemicals – so Why Isn’t It Regulated? | Guardian Sustainable Business | The Guardian.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 28 Sept. 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/sep/28/tattoo-ink-cancer-regulation.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1030, Propylene glycol" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Propylene-glycol. Accessed 2 December, 2021.

“Pigment Violet 23 Marks 55 Years of Adding Color to the World.” PCI Magazine RSS, PCI Magazine, 15 Mar. 2009, https://www.pcimag.com/articles/88747-pigment-violet-23-marks-55-years-of-adding-color-to-the-world.

"Pigment White 6." McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E. 2003. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 19 Nov. 2021 https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Pigment+White+6

“Plastic Number 4 LDPE - Low-Density Polyethylene.” Everyday Recycler, Everyday Recycler, 17 Oct. 2021, https://everydayrecycler.com/plastic-numbers-no-4-ldpe/.

“PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6854, Carbazole.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/carbazole.

Schemel, Juergen. “Propylene Glycol: Chemical Plants & Processes.” Industrial Solutions, https://www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com/en/products-and-services/chemical-plants-and-processes/propylene-glycol.

“Synthesis of Copper Phthalocyanine.” YouTube, Texium, 28 July 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnx6PBFBGik. Accessed 1 Dec. 2021.

“Tattoo Ink Safety: What Are They Made From?” MEDermis Laser Clinic, MEDermis Laser Clinic, 21 Feb. 2021, https://medermislaserclinic.com/blog/what-are-tattoo-inks-made-from/.

Wade, Leroy G.. "isopropyl alcohol". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Nov. 2018, https://www.britannica.com/science/isopropyl-alcohol. Accessed 1 December 2021.

“What Equipment Do You Need to Start Tattooing.” A-Esthetic, https://advance-esthetic.us/blog/what-equipment-do-you-need-to-start-tattooing.

“What Is Soda Ash.” Eti Soda, Eti Soda, 29 July 2020, https://www.etisoda.com/en/what-is-soda-ash/.

“What Is Witch Hazel & How Is It Made: From Farm to Skin.” Thayers, https://www.thayers.com/from-farm-to-skin.html. 

Kinney Owen

Professor Cogdell

Des 40A

12-2-2021

Energy of Ink

Tattoo ink has been around the world for centuries dating back from 3100 BC. Today, more industries focus on ink making, which in turn produces more energy and waste. Instead of locally sourcing and producing Tattoo ink, there is a worldwide effort that goes into the production of tattoo ink. In this, our group investigated the production of Kuro Sumi eggplant black tattoo ink. The amount of energy to produce a simple bottle of Kuro Sumi eggplant ink vastly outcompetes the amount of energy it took to first produce tattooing ink. There is energy consumption all throughout the life cycle of Kuro Sumi’s eggplant ink. Starting from the power it takes to obtain the pigments, to the energy consumption of crafting the harvesting machines, to the transportation between the materials, to the actual processing of the eggplant ink, to the packaging, and finally the shipping; not to mention the amount of waste and greenhouse gases produced from all these processes.

            The first stage of the life span of Kuro Sumi eggplant black ink is the production of the ink. The ink is a mix of pigments, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, and water. In this, we will focus on the energy that goes into the production of the pigments. In eggplant black, there are four primary pigments: Violet 23, white 6, blue 15, and Carbon Black 6. Violet twenty-three is made from the combination of chloranil and three-amino-N-ethyl carbazole. Chloranil is made through the chlorination of Phenol or the addition of chlorine elements to phenol. Phenol is made in a production plant, meaning it is not found naturally in the world. It is made from cumene. Now cumene is a natural substance found in the wild. Cumene is a part of plants and crude oil/ coal tar. Although for the process of cumene, it is primarily extracted from Crude Oil. Once cumene is separated from the Crude Oil, which is done through a refinement process, it is then combined with hydroperoxide, then decomposed of cumene hydroperoxide, which gives the product of phenol. Though there is a lot missing from the production of phenol. Crude oil must be extracted from the earth. It then needs to be moved to a processing plant to make cumene. Then to make hydroperoxide. It requires methane as a source of hydrogen, then to heat it up with water to combine the hydrogen and water. It is a very energy-intensive job. For all these processes to just make Phenol, half of the process to make Violet 23, Giant facilities are used, normally built by ports for fast shipment of product and income of materials to produce Phenol. Though the process to make this pigment is not finished. There is then the need to combine phenol and chlorine. Chlorine is made through the electrolysis of sodium chloride(salt) to make brine. This involves employing people, the physical production of the plant, which is steel, cement. The plant requires electricity, which is a whole different process. If something were to happen to the plant, there needs to be on-call engineers to come and fix the machinery. This requires a college degree to become an engineer. All these people also need to be paid, and fed, and housed. This is just for chlorine, keep in mind. To produce salt, they have to mine salt. Though some of these processes take place in third-world nations making them very inexpensive to make. For example, salt is very easily harvested in third-world nations as they use the exploitation of people to mine it.

White 6 pigment can be produced organically and or non-organically. It is chemically known as titanium dioxide which is an inorganic compound. It is a common metal found in earth metals consisting of one titanium atom and 2 oxygen atoms. Titanium dioxide is found in the earth in ilmenite ore which contains around 45% TiO2. For this, mining operations must take place. In just one day of mining, a total of 143,000,000 gigajoules of energy is used with 40,000,000,000 tons of CO2 displaced into the atmosphere This then is separated into pure TiO2 in a sulfate or chloride process. Of the two methods, the sulfate process is the most popular method in developed nations. In this process, the ilmenite or has sulfuric acid poured on top of it separating the Fe from the TiO2. Once this process is done, it contaminates the soil making it a hazard to wildlife as it leaks into the water system. 

In the production of Carbon black 6, there are two ways of production of this pigment, the thermal process, and the oil furnace process. 90% of carbon black is produced through the oil furnace process. In this process, liquid hydrocarbons are injected into a furnace of natural gas where it is decomposed into carbon black. This carbon black is then cooled down with water. After this, the carbon black is pulverized and wet pelletized to make the final product. Out of this production line, there are 40 individual stages to make carbon black 6. With each stage using its own fuel source, whether that be water, natural gas, petroleum, and so on. With each source having to be obtained from the earth and transported to the factory for production. Once the dyes have been produced, the next stage will be to put them into containers for distribution.

The next stage is to put the dyes into containers for distribution. Kuro Sumi uses recycled plastic bottles. Although on their bottles, it is not mentioned what type of plastic the bottle is nor is there a recyclable symbol on them. Although our team contacted the company and all we were told was that they are recyclable. For this stage of the product, our team will choose a recyclable plastic and show the amount of energy and work that goes into its production. HDPE is the most common plastic used in recyclable products. To make HDPE, the primary resource petroleum is heated up to high temperature and is then put through molds. In the case of plastic bottles, it is ejection molding. Which takes the heated-up petroleum and has it go through machinery. Oil drilling is needed to get the petroleum. Then it needs to be transported, then goes to the refineries/ molding factories. The machines that are used for plastic injection molding use the power of hydraulics and steel. Steel is imported from Canada and Brazil. Then it is extruded into the design of the machine. Mineral Oil is made from natural oils on the earth.

Oil is a primary resource and ingredient for almost every step of the production of ink. Whether that be the making of the container or the making of the pigments. The first step in the oil process is the extraction of crude oil. In this case, we will be using an offshore oil rig as the extractor of oil. An offshore oil rig itself consumes an estimated twenty to thirty gallons cubed of deiseal per day. This is approximately 3956040000000 Jules of energy just to run. Along with it takes a crew of around one hundred personnel to operate. The transportation of these oils is done through Train, truck, and boat. All of which require deiseal oil to run. For Deiseal oil, to make eleven to twelve gallons, it requires forty-two gallons of crude oil. Furthermore, all the oil is not going to the same place, it must be taken to different plants to produce different materials such as the HDPE plastics and the pigments. Each cycle of the life span of Kuro Sumi’s eggplant black ink produces waste. The crude oil used to make plastics, deiseal fuel, and the pigment is not 100% used. Tons of carbon waste is produced. For an average refinery that refines 300,000 barrels of petroleum per day, total carbon waste can range from .8 to 4.2 million tons of CO2.

The amount of people that go into just the production of oil itself is a lot. Though we cannot forget the workforce that goes into the processes of making the plastic containers, the pigments, and the transportation. The average person consumes around 2600 calories per day. Meaning to feed everyone in the offshore oil rig alone would take 260000 calories of food per day. If these 100 all ate cheeseburgers, which contain all parts of the 5 food groups, Dairy, wheat, meat, fruit, and vegetables. With your average cheeseburger being taking anywhere from seven to 20 Mega Jules of energy to produce and having one burger be equivalent to around 1000 calories, meaning eating around 3 burgers per day per person. That is about 6000 Mega Jules of energy just spent on food alone per day. Now that is just for the oil rig. There are workers that work with the transportation of these materials and work at processing plants and making the chlorine, the ink. The plastics. Now all these people must be housed some way or another, along with being paid a salary.

Remember that this list is not including all the materials that makeup Kuro Sumi’s eggplant black. This paper gives a glimpse into the amount of energy that goes into unnecessary things in the world. With the rapid evolution of our species and our forward increase of technologies. It is incredible to imagine that we as a species are allowed to use the globe and all its resources to make materials that don’t even benefit or aid our society.

Bibliography  

“6.1 Carbon Black - US EPA.” 6.1 Carbon Black, https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/ap42/ch06/final/c06s01.pdf.

Cascio, Jamais. “The Cheese Burger Footprint.” The Cheeseburger Footprint, http://www.openthefuture.com/cheeseburger_CF.html.

David, About the Author: “Kuro Sumi History: Ingredients, Company, Origins Told from a   ……..Distributors Perspective.” Hildbrandt Tattoo Supply, 18 Sept. 2020, https://www.tattoomachineequipment.com/kuro-sumi-history-ingredients-distributor.

“Energy Use From Mining.” The World Counts, https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/mining/energy-use-in-the-mining-industry/story.

Energy Numbers - University of Washington.

https://www.ocean.washington.edu/courses/envir215/energynumbers.pdf.

“Eternal ink_sds 2021.PDF.” Google Drive, Google,   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ot3Xr2zbOiJIXKoHchozlNGpBvUgtMR_/view.

IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. “Exposure Data.” Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, and Talc., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan.

1970, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326510/.

Phenol, 11 Jan. 2017, https://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/chemicals/phenol.html.

Qianjiang FangYuan Titanium Industry Co. “How to Manufacture Titanium Dioxide by Sulfate Process.” Qianjiang FangYuan Titanium Industry Co., Ltd, http://www.fangyuan-tio2.com/how-to-manufacture-titanium-dioxide-by-sulfate-process.html#:~:text=In%20the%20sulfate%20process%2C%20ilmenite,and%20converted%20into%20titanium%20dioxide.&text=2.,(II)sulfate%20is%20removed.

S. Nikfar, A.F. Behboudi. “Cumene Hydroperoxide.” Cumene Hydroperoxide - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/cumene-hydroperoxide.

“Offshore Drilling Rigs.” IPIECA, https://www.ipieca.org/resources/energy-efficiency-

solutions/units-and-plants-practices/offshore-drilling-rigs/.

sschanke_51w0yw3f. “How Is HDPE Made?” Scranton Products, sschanke_51w0yw3f Https://Www.scrantonproducts.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/2019/02/Scranton-Products-Full-Color-Logo.png, 22 Feb. 2019, https://www.scrantonproducts.com/how-is-hdpe-made/.

“UniChlor® Systems.” Powell, 28 June 2021, https://powellsolutions.com/solutions/production-systems/unichlor-systems/.

“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Diesel                 …….Prices and Outlook - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/diesel-fuel/prices-and-outlook.php.

“What Is Titanium Dioxide?” TDMA, European Chemical Industrial Council, 26 Nov. 2021, https://tdma.info/what-is-titanium-dioxide/.

Ana De Jesus

Professor Cogdell

DES40A

December 1, 2021

Kuro Sumi Eggplant Ink Waste

One of the most famous brands in the tattoo industry is the Kuro Sumi ink brand. Developed in Japan, Kuro Sumi continues to produce high-quality inks that are said to be safe and promising for tattoo shading. Kuro Sumi’s brand is most known for being vegan friendly and containing non-toxic ingredients. By focusing on the Eggplant Black tattoo ink specifically, we will discover whether the materials used, the transportation, and the product itself can have adverse effects on the environment. 

The SDS sheet on Kuro Sumi’s website lists several ingredients used to make the ink, including pigments, witch hazel, and so forth. Our focus will be on the pigments used in the Eggplant Black ink such as Violet 23, White 6, Blue 15, and Carbon Black 6. These pigments are sometimes classified as organic pigments or inorganic pigments. Pigments can be classified as organic or inorganic depending on how they are formulated. Plants are often used to create organic pigments, whereas chemical formulas are required to create the desired color in inorganic pigments. Violet 23 and blue 15 are organic pigments, while white 6 and carbon black 6 are inorganic pigments. Organic is a marketing technique used by companies to convince consumers that their product is safe and beneficial for them. The real issue with Violet 23 and Blue 15 is that, although they are organic compounds, they are still manufactured in factories in which phenyl and carbazole are incorporated into the pigments. All kinds of factories are known to produce fossil fuel emissions and toxic ammonia.  With regard to inorganic pigments, carbon black 6 is typically produced by thermal or furnace processes. Carbon black 6 is most commonly produced by the furnace process, in which petroleum oil is heated to a high temperature. This process is favored for its massive production and ability to control properties like shape and size. Although it can create huge amounts of pigment very fast, this process is very detrimental to our environment because it releases air pollutants. According to the “Black Carbon Research and Future Strategies” article, black carbon has a negative effect on both our climate and human health. The reason why it is so harmful to the environment is because it uses gas and diesel engines that burn fossil fuels. Moving onto pigment White 6, it was mentioned in an article that the pigment contained Titanium Dioxide. The article, “Cheap, Environmentally Friendly Extraction Method For Titanium Dioxide Developed,” made known that the process for making titanium dioxide requires “mineral ore by smelting, then treating the slag with chlorine, or by directly introducing it into sulphuric acid solution.” Unfortunately, these processes can produce toxic and hazardous wastes that may be too expensive to get rid of from the environment. This research shows that the ink itself may not harm the environment, but the pigments and production processes behind it inevitably affect our environment making it non-eco-friendly. 

While researching the Kuro Sumi company, they did not reveal the specific kind of machine they use to process their inks but in the tattoo industry, they are most likely to use a machine like the Boston Shearmill. Using the Boston Shearmill, dry ingredients can be transformed into soft particles at a very fast rate, allowing mass production of a certain product. The ink manufacturers would benefit greatly from investing in this machine since it has the ability to run 24/7, can pulverize dry ingredients into liquid forms, and is easy to maintain. According to the Shearmill description, the device uses a multi port stator which is an improvement from the “conventional machines” because this port uses multiple electrical and mechanical ports. According to an article entitled, “How Does Electricity Impact the Environment?” by Van Thomson, generating electricity negatively impacts the earth's atmosphere through emissions of carbon dioxide and gases that produce radiation. Due to its energy-intensive nature, the Shearmill emits a lot of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. It is important to understand the intense waste production this machine is producing and how it is affecting other things we may not consider. Thompson explains, for instance, that carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide are the elements most likely to become trapped in our atmosphere, thus causing acid rain. Another concerning point Thompson mentions in his article is that radioactive waste can eventually cause “cancer and genetic mutations in humans and animals.” 

In addition to Kuro Sumi's Eggplant Black ink's life cycle, we must consider its impact on the environment by evaluating the materials used to transport the ink and to package it. After the pigments are ready to go, they are put into recyclable containers and small plastic bags. In spite of the fact that the ink bottle does not specify what type of plastic the Kuro Sumi company uses, we will examine HDPE, which stands for High Density Polyethylene, the most common plastic used by multiple industries. While the plastic can be recyclable, the production of HDPE is not the most eco-friendly. For instance, an article called, “How Is HDPE Made?” mentions that HDPE is created using a process called “cracking,” which is the heating up of petroleum to high temperatures, resulting in plastic. Similarly to the process of carbon black 6, the emissions of petroleum can release carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses into the air. Once the ink is packaged into plastic bottles and bags, it is transported to venues where tattoo artists/tattoo shops purchase it. 

As part of the transportation process, we need to consider how transport vehicles may generate waste. In the Kuro Sumi website, the ink was initially formulated in Japan, according to their little description under their history tab. Currently, they are able to produce the ink in the United States using the original formula Kuro Sumi used when it began. Because they are able to be produced in the U.S., their way of transporting their product may be reliable on road transportation or rail transportation. Specifically focusing on road transportation, the most common vehicle used for transportation is Heavy-Duty Trucks. In a statistical article called “Volume of U.S. medium and heavy-duty truck GHG emissions 1990-2019” by Ian Tiseo, Tiseo states that “Medium and heavy-duty trucks in the United States emitted 444 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019," which illustrates how Kuro Sumi's transportation trucks are part of a larger problem related to the amount of greenhouse gases that are overpowering our environment. This is only taking into account the trucks that deliver the items, not the other possible transportation methods that Kuro Sumi may use. 

Once the final Eggplant Black ink arrives at tattoo artists for them to use, we will examine the waste it produces as it is used. Tattooing, as many people know, requires a very complicated procedure in order to ensure the safety of both the customer and the tattoo artist. There are a variety of items used to ensure there is no medical or hazardous waste, including tattoo needles, protective gloves, paper towels, gauze/bandages, cotton swabs, ink caps, etc. It is a very long list of materials we can go further into detail but for this particular research, we will focus on just the paper towels. Paper towels are very useful during the tattoo because tattoo artists use it to rub off any excess ink on the skin. Based on the article “What Are Paper Towels Made Of?“, it is explained that paper is normally made from trees, however, there are other renewable sources being used recently, such as bamboo. Furthermore, the article includes a video that shows how paper is recycled and remade so it can be used again and again. 

Ultimately, the packaging for the ink and the products used while using the ink are recyclable. It is very important to remove the ink from the containers that have the ink in them as the ink contains many negative chemicals that can harm our animals if they are exposed to them. In previous paragraphs, we have discussed the HDPE plastic and how it is recyclable. According to a Coda Blog, HDPE is not biodegradable and can be recycled and used for future plastics manufacturing. The amount of plastic in our world is so great that it is causing plastic pollution on our planet, despite the fact that many plastics are being reused. The article, "The world's plastic pollution crisis explained," discusses the plastic pollution crisis and how difficult it has been to deal with since so many plastics are being produced. A great amount of plastic can end up in our oceans causing negative impacts on our sea animals. It is a crisis we are currently unable to solve because of the overconsumption of our economy. 

Research has shown that the Eggplant Black tattoo ink from the Kuro Sumi company is not eco-friendly, as it contains ingredients and uses wasteful materials in packaging and shipping. Among the reasons that make the Kuro Sumi brand so popular in the tattoo industry is its vegan reputation. Clearly, making ink is detrimental to our earth, to our animals, and to ourselves. The environmental impact of a product can be affected by all processes leading up to its production, the process of transporting the product, and the aftermath of the product. In the course of the research, it was found that most of the products used to make the ink produced greenhouse gases during production. This research is meaningful because it reveals the background information consumers may not consider when they buy a product. During this time, more people are taking interest in saving the planet and putting their part to make a difference but it is not as simple as it is. Everything is interconnected through techno-natures and it can not be avoided.            

Bibliography

University of Leeds. "Cheap, Environmentally Friendly Extraction Method For Titanium Dioxide Developed." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 February 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211090311.htm>.

Admin. “All You Wanted to Know about Phythalocyanine Blue.” Mallak Chemicals, 22 Apr. 2019, https://mallakchemicals.com/blog/2019/04/22/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-phythalocyanine-blue/.

Angela. “Ingredient Spotlight: Titanium Dioxide - Is It Safe?” Naturally Safe Cosmetics, 2019, https://naturallysafe.com.au/naturally-safe-blog/ingredient-spotlight-titanium-dioxide-is-it-safe/.

Ardila-Leal, Leidy D., et al. “A Brief History of Colour, the Environmental Impact of Synthetic Dyes and Removal by Using Laccases.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 22 June 2021, https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/13/3813.

“Black Carbon Research and Future Strategies.” Science in Action Innovative Research for a Sustainable Future, EPA, https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2013-12/documents/black-carbon-fact-sheet_0.pdf.

“Boston Shearmill Wet Mill/Homogenizer: How It Works.” Admix, 3 Aug. 2020, https://www.admix.com/boston-shearmill-how-it-works.

Bu, Feifei, et al. “Recent Advances and Developments in Dual Stator-Winding Induction Generator and System.” IEEE Xplore, 2018, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8272014.

“Classification of Carbon Black by Manufacturing Process.” Manufacturing Process of Carbon Black, http://www.carbonblack.jp/en/cb/seizou.html#:~:text=Channel%20Process,the%20carbon%20black%20which%20results.

“Difference between Organic Pigments and Inorganic Pigments.” Koel Colours Blog - Tips, News and Reviews, 8 May 2018, https://www.koelcolours.com/blog/pigments/difference-organic-pigments-inorganic-pigments/.

“How Is Carbon Black Produced?” ICBA, https://www.carbon-black.org/is-carbon-black-safe.

Media, Web Smart. “Climate Change - Deforestation.” Climate and Weather, https://www.climateandweather.net/global-warming/deforestation/.

Müller Albrecht. Coloring of Plastics: Fundamentals, Colorants, Preparations. Hanser, 2003.

“Pigment Mixing: Industrial Mixers for Pigments.” Admix, 12 May 2021, https://www.admix.com/pigments.

“What Is Titanium Dioxide?” TDMA, 26 Nov. 2021, https://tdma.info/what-is-titanium-dioxide/. 

“Ports Primer: 7.1 Environmental Impacts.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 15 July 2021, https://www.epa.gov/community-port-collaboration/ports-primer-71-environmental-impacts. 

Thompson, Van. “How Does Electricity Affect the Environment?” Seattlepi, College & Higher Education, 29 Sept. 2016, https://education.seattlepi.com/electricity-affect-environment-6590.html. 

Cheng, Ming, et al. “Emerging Multi-Port Electrical Machines and Systems: Past ...” ResearchGate, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Nov. 2017, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321257823_Emerging_Multi-Port_Electrical_Machines_and_Systems_Past_Developments_Current_Challenges_and_Future_Prospects. 

“Freight Transportation and Distribution: Their Difference and Importance.” Corlett Express, 30 Sept. 2020, https://corlettexpress.com/freight-transportation-and-distribution-their-difference-and-importance/. 

Tiseo, Ian, and Apr 23. “U.S. Heavy-Duty Vehicle GHG Emissions 1990-2019.” Statista, 23 Apr. 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1120519/us-med-heavy-trucks-vehicle-ghg-emissions/#statisticContainer. 

Webber, Kevin. “Tattoo Shops and Waste Disposal: What Qualifies as Medical/Hazardous Waste?” TriHaz Solutions Blog, 19 Feb. 2019, https://blog.trihazsolutions.com/tattoo-shops-and-waste-disposal-what-qualifies-as-medical-hazardous-waste-. 

Welch, Allen, et al. “What Are Paper Towels Made of?” Clean Sweep Supply, 18 Aug. 2021, https://www.cleansweepsupply.com/what-are-paper-towels-made-of. 

Parker, Laura. “Plastic Pollution Facts and Information.” Environment, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution. 

Phillips, Porter. “Factory Emissions.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, Esri, 8 June 2021, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7221608f86ae406f802d294a51f690f3.