GOOD JUDY
ECO-FRIENDLY TATTOO SUPPLIES: GOOD JUDY AND MAGICAL MUSHROOM COMPANY® CREATE COMPOSTABLE INK CAP TRAYS
PLANT-FRIENDLY TATTOO SUPPLIES
Good Judy, a Canadian tattoo supply company founded by Lee D’Angelo, is leading the way in sustainable tattooing by offering certified compostable and biodegradable products. The tattoo industry, heavily reliant on disposable plastics for health safety, generates billions of pieces of contaminated plastic waste annually.
In response, Good Judy has embraced innovative, planet-friendly solutions, including compostable paper eco ink caps and biodegradable nitrile gloves. To push the boundaries further, they partnered with Magical Mushroom Company® to develop a fully compostable ink cap tray that meets health board regulations and aligns with their commitment to reducing waste.
“THESE INNOVATIVE MATERIALS WILL TRULY TRANSFORM INDUSTRIES BUILT ON SINGLE-USE ITEMS.”
THE PROBLEM
NEED FOR A SUSTAINABLE, BIODEGRADABLE ALTERNATIVE TO DISPOSABLE INK CAP TRAYS
Health board regulations require ink cap trays to be disposable, ruling out stainless steel reusable options and leaving the market dominated by oil-based plastics and bio-plastics.
Good Judy sought a sustainable alternative that could offer the same safety and functionality as traditional trays while reducing environmental impact.
The challenge was to design and produce a biodegradable, planet-friendly ink cap tray that reflected their core values and commitment to sustainability.
THE SOLUTION
RAPID PROTOTYPING & THOROUGH TESTING LED TO PLANT BASED INK CAP TRAYS
Good Judy collaborated with Magical Mushroom Company®’s design team to rapidly prototype an ink cap tray using mycelium-based Mushroom® Packaging.
The design process included creating 3D-printed soft tooling and tray moulds, followed by rigorous impact and stress testing. Once the prototype met the highest standards, production began using Mushroom® Packaging at MMC’s Esher plant.
This material, made by binding mycelium with agricultural waste like recycled hemp, offers a safe, strong, and fully compostable alternative to plastics. Even in harsh landfill conditions without oxygen or light, Mushroom® Packaging biodegrades while capturing harmful gases.
THE RESULT
A FULLY COMPOSTABLE TRAY, WHICH REMOVED RELIANCE ON PLASTIC ONLY CHOICES
Good Judy’s circular ink cap trays demonstrate the potential of plant-based alternatives to plastic. Grown rather than refined through chemical processes, the trays are the most eco-friendly option available for tattoo professionals.
The trays are compostable, breaking down into natural fertiliser within 45 days. Customers can dispose of them directly in their gardens, returning nutrients to the soil.
This collaboration highlights the scope of Mushroom® Packaging beyond packaging alone, expanding into industries like fashion, food, design, insulation, and now tattooing. Good Judy and MMC are already working on additional mycelium-based tattoo products to further revolutionise the industry.
“Good Judy is striving to find practical solutions to the plastic waste crisis that reaches beyond even bioplastics.
That’s why we are enthusiastic about mycelium solutions—these innovative materials are what will truly transform industries that are built on single-use items.”
Lee D’Angelo, Founder, Good Judy
