December 11, 2025 12:01

UPM has developed the first bio-based, carbon-negative black pigment that can be detected by near-infrared (NIR) optical sensors used in waste sorting facilities.

Developed in Finland and called UPM Circular Renewable Black, the pigment is intended for packaging applications where traditional carbon black-based pigments go undetected. Conventional black pigments absorb NIR radiation, making dark-colored materials invisible to sorting systems.

Derived from lignin, UPM Circular Renewable Black can replace fossil-based pigments without altering aesthetic performance, processability or tone. It contributes to sustainability and decarbonization goals by storing more CO2 than it emits. The life cycle assessment (LCA), compliant with ISO 14040/44 standards, was verified by Dekra.

Part of UPM’s portfolio of CO2-negative solutions, the pigment is produced at the company’s biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, where woody biomass is converted into next-generation biochemicals – including bioMEG, bioMPG and functional fillers – supporting the transition from fossil-based to renewable materials in a wide range of applications, including pigments.

“With UPM Circular Renewable Black, we are redefining what’s possible in sustainable packaging,” said Robert Marx, vice president commercial for UPM Biorefining. “For years, black was seen as incompatible with circularity – but we’ve changed that narrative.”

© Polimerica -  Reproduction prohibited, all rights reserved