Lifocolor (Lichtenfels, Germany; www.lifocolor.de) has introduced plant-based masterbatches for colouring biopolymers. The company said its Bio-C range is suitable for processing temperatures of up to 240 °C for extruding and injection moulding biobased, biodegradable PLA, PHA, and blends based on those materials. “They could, in fact, also be further developed for other biopolymers, such as bio-based polyethylene”, said marketing manager Jessica Knoch at the K 2022 trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany (www.k-online.de).

“With regard to the recycling cycle, we do not aim to keep a colour in the cycle forever – the limited processing of recyclates fundamentally does not permit that”, explained Marco Meixner, the company’s head of R&D . At the K show, Lifocolor presented its expanded LifoCycle product portfolio, which includes recyclable colour and additive batches and additives said to increase the sortability of plastics.

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The new White 60/MED PE masterbatch, by contrast, can be used for the white colouring of pharmaceutical packaging and drug containers made of polyolefins, the company said, noting that it has 10/2011 EU and FDA approvals for food contact and delivers an intense colouring even at low dosages of 1-2%.

With a new plant at its Lichtenfels headquarters, the masterbatch manufacturer last year increased capacity to the current total of 10,000 t/y across all five production sites.

In 2020, the company expanded its German site in Straufhain (see Plasteurope.com of 20.10.2020), and it operates further manufacturing in Izernore, France; Brno, the Czech Republic; and Bydgoszcz, Poland. The group currently has around 300 employees; Lifocolor does not disclose sales figures.