COLOUR | PIGMENTS
To face this challenge,UPM introduced the new
Circular Renewable Black, a bio-based, NIR-detect- able black, which enables premium packaging solutions that combine design with recyclability. The new pigment is derived from renewable lignin and certified by third party standards, amongst them ISCC Plus. It delivers deep black colour for premium aesthetics and a carbon-negative footprint, being derived from nature. Sun Chemical’s new pigments for plastics
Above: UPM has introduced Circular Renewable Black, a bio-based, NIR-detectable black
perform with PLA, PHA, PHBV, PBS, PBAT and blends of those materials, without compromising their biodegradation properties. “Combining OnColor Bio with bio-based polymers helps to reduce the risk and cost of post-process testing,” said the company in a release. “This then enables converters to take full advantage of the emerging market for home-com- postable bags and packaging.” The OnColor Bio concentrates have received OK compost HOME certification from TÜV Austria. The latest amendment to EU Plastics Regulation
10/2011, often referred to as the ‘Quality Amend- ment’, significantly strengthens migration limits for substances in food contact materials. In practice, this raises the bar for pigment and colorant purity, placing greater emphasis on controlling the levels of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). Pigment purity is fundamental to regulatory compliance. For pigment manufacturers, this means greater scrutiny of raw materials, increased analytical monitoring, and robust risk assessment processes. Sun Chemical has invested in high-purity colorant technologies for sensitive applications, minimizing substances of concern. The company says it has a philosophy that aims to go “beyond compliance”, supported by advanced analytics and comprehen- sive regulatory certification aligned with the latest EU requirements. This enables pigment users to meet or exceed evolving compliance standards without compromising performance or consistency.
Circularity needs For years, black packaging has been associated with recycling challenges, as conventionally used pigments, and particularly carbon black, inhibit NIR detection and thus make the material invisible to sorting systems in recycling facilities.
22 COMPOUNDING WORLD | September 2026
recycling include Sicopal Black K 0098 FK, which exhibits exceptional heat stability with global food contact compliance, and has been adopted in food packaging to replace non-sortable carbon black. These inorganic pigments possess a spinel structure, based on various metal oxides, and offer high fastness to light and weather exposure. The NIR- reflective black pigments, with high colour strength and opacity, are especially recommended to enable sorting of black plastics in polyolefins and PET. Shepherd Colour is also contributing to solve
this problem by providing the FDA-approved Arctic Black 10F925, and for colour-tinted materials the Arctic Black 10F951. The pigments do not absorb infrared wavelengths, increasing the value of the recycle stream. “Shepherd Colour’s Arctic Black 10F951 is specifically designed for the PCR market due to key properties,” said Mark Ryan. “The inherent high-heat stability of the pigment, over 600°C, means that it can be used in any polymer, and will not change properties with multiple recycle passes, and does not cause warping in polyolefins.” The low-use rate, relative to other NIR-sorting
compatible pigments helps to reduce colour variability in PCR stream plastics. Rowasol, based in Germany, produces NIR- Deep Black, an alternative to black colourants that can be identified in sorting facilities by NIR technol- ogy, and provides a deep coverage, bright under visible light. According to the supplier, even at a dosage of just 1% the highly pigmented liquid colours achieve high opacity levels and provide uniform coverage, even over coloured recycled materials. It is appropriate for applications in contact with food, and it is not magnetic and can be used in polar thermoplastics, such as PS, PET, ABS, PC and PMMA. A second variant with less colour depth is also appropriate for PE and PP. Both versions also offer a cooling effect by reflect-
ing heat-generating infrared radiation: components heat up less, which improves thermal management depending on the application – such as packaging, facade elements, or automotive interiors. For automotive interiors, the Macrolex Black types from Lanxess offer a solution to achieve
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IMAGE: UPM
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