Speciality chemicals and plastics producer Clariant (Muttenz / Switzerland; www.clariant.com) has introduced a range of compostable colour pigments under its “PV Fast” and “Graphtol” ranges of high-performance, organic pigment powders. Nine products of the two brands now feature the compostable pigment, which has been certified “OK Compost Industrial” by inspection agency TÜV Austria (Vienna; www.tuv.at), and meets the requirements of the European Union EN 13432: 2000 standard. Both product ranges are used in food-contact packaging, plastics tableware, dishware and toys.

According to Clariant, the colouration of biodegradable polymers requires the pigments to meet certain characteristics to be considered compostable. For processing through organic recovery facilities, this requires a low content of heavy metals and fluorine, and no ecotoxicity towards plants.

Just a few weeks ago, the Swiss company decided to merge its pigments business with the German Heubach group (see Plasteurope.com of 15.06.2021). The speciality chemicals group has been in an ongoing restructuring process: management had initially hoped to sell the pigments business by 2020 and reportedly held talks with potential buyers, but it stopped the process on concerns over how the coronavirus pandemic might affect the selling price. In 2020, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 3.86 bn with a workforce of 13,235.