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Application guide

Pigments for
Paper & Packaging

Adding attractive and uniform colouration for paper and packaging materials. Our pigments deliver excellent aqueous dispersibility, clean hue, and high tinting strength for surface coatings, paper tinting, board colouration, and premium packaging applications.

Excellent aqueous dispersibility Food-contact safe grades available Coated paper · Board · Packaging
6
Recommended pigment grades
2
Available product forms
FC safe
Food-contact grade available
PV23
White paper optical brightening
What paper & packaging demands

Key Performance Requirements

Paper and packaging colouration differs from other applications — almost all processing is aqueous, food-safety regulations apply to packaging substrates, and OBA (optical brightening agent) compatibility is critical for premium white papers.

Aqueous dispersibility

Paper coatings are entirely water-based. Pigments must disperse cleanly in aqueous coating formulations without settling, gelling, or forming agglomerates that cause coating streaks or defects.

Food-contact compliance

Packaging materials in direct or indirect contact with food require pigments that meet FDA, EU, and Swiss Ordinance food-contact regulations. PB 15:4 (chlorine-free) is the compliant grade for these applications.

OBA compatibility & white paper toning

PV23 Bluer Tone at trace loadings (0.005–0.05%) neutralises the yellow cast in white paper, working in synergy with optical brightening agents to achieve the bright neutral white demanded by premium printing grades.

High tinting strength & cleanliness

Paper applications use very low pigment loadings to achieve tinting effects. High tinting strength reduces usage cost. Clean, bright hues are essential for packaging where brand colour accuracy is critical.

Product forms

Forms Available

Paper and packaging applications use aqueous systems exclusively. Two forms are available — pre-dispersed aqueous dispersion for direct use, and paste for concentrated applications and high-quality coating operations.

Water-based dispersion visualisation

Dispersion — Water-Based

Pre-dispersed aqueous pigment concentrate for direct incorporation into paper surface coatings, size press applications, and aqueous tinting systems. Excellent compatibility with standard paper coating binders.

Typical loading0.1–5% in coating formulation
Best forSurface coating, size press, tinting
Packaging20 L pails / 200 L drums
Shelf life12 months
Paste visualisation

Paste — Concentrated

Highly concentrated aqueous pigment paste for use in specialised paper coating applications and high-quality printing operations. Provides superior tinting performance and colour consistency.

Typical loading5–20% in coating formulation
Best forSpecialised coating, high-end printing
Packaging200 L drums
Shelf life12 months
PIGMENT PASTE PAPER & BOARD

Paste

High-strength pigment paste for concentrated colouration of paper pulp, board stocks, and premium coating formulations. Provides superior fineness and more uniform colour distribution in the paper web versus dry powder addition.

Typical loading0.2–8% in pulp or coating
Best forBoard colouration, premium coating
Packaging25 kg tins / pails
Shelf life12 months
Quick reference

Recommended Pigments & Performance

Key properties for each grade in paper coating, board colouration, and packaging applications. Contact us to confirm suitability for your specific substrate and regulatory requirements.

Pigment Application role Aq. Dispersibility Tint Strength Food Contact OBA Compatible Lightfastness
PB 15:0
 Clean blue for coated paper
PB 15:4
 Food-contact safe blue for packaging
PG 7
 Bright green shades
PY 74
 Economical yellow for paper
PV23
 White paper toning & shade control
Pigment Red
 Packaging & decorative reds
–
Recommended
Suitable — verify first
Not recommended

Ready to find the right pigment for your paper system?

Our technical team can advise on grade selection, form, and loading for your specific paper substrate, coating formulation, and food-contact requirements — including sample dispatch and TDS documentation.

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