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The way that consumers view products has been influenced by many things, but most notably, the color of products, whether it be a colorful drink, an upscale skin care item or an all-natural health food supplement, the color of a product can have a huge influence on purchasing decisions, recognition of brand and the overall attractiveness of a product.
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand from consumers for clean-label and natural ingredients. As a result, manufacturers continue to evaluate plant-based options for coloring products in place of synthetic dyes. On the other hand, many still use synthetic colors because they are generally cheaper than plant-based options and offer superior performance.
Which is best for today’s products?
This blog will explore both options, plant-based vs. synthetic, assisting product developers with making educated choices about what to choose when it comes to performance, price, customer preferences and compliance with regulations.
Color is often the first attribute consumers notice. It helps:
Colorants are widely used across:
Colors based on plant materials (such as the color of a fruit or vegetable) have been used for many years.
They are now being used in “clean label” food and beverage products by consumers who prefer using recognized natural ingredients.
The process generally involves:
Synthetic colors are man-made chemicals used as dyes with desired hues and stability levels.
The manufacturing process is carried out in an industry-controlled environment, which allows the manufacturer to produce uniform batches.
Some widely used synthetic colors include:
Synthetic colors gained popularity because they offer:
| Feature | Plant-Based Colors | Synthetic Colors |
| Source | Natural plant materials | Chemical synthesis |
| Label Appeal | Clean-label friendly | Artificial label declaration |
| Color Intensity | Moderate to high | Very high |
| Stability | Can vary | Highly stable |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Sustainability | Renewable sources | Petrochemical-based |
| Consumer Preference | Growing rapidly | Declining in some markets |
Generally, synthetic colors are brighter and have a higher intensity of color then plant-based colors.
It is possible to obtain attractive and desirable shades with plant-based colors; however, you may need to make adjustments in your formulations.
Synthetic colors will usually perform better at very high temperatures when it comes to processing.
As improvements continue in natural color technologies, so too does the thermal stability of plant-based alternatives to synthetic colors.
Some natural pigments are affected by UV light exposure, for extended periods of time, possibly more so than many synthetic dyes.
The pH level sensitivity of most plant-derived pigments varies greatly, therefore affecting how the color appears in the final product.
Generally, synthetic colors retain their color consistencies for longer time frames during storage.
The choice depends on:
Clean label appeal is a growing demand by consumers to be able to identify all of the ingredients that go into their products.
Plant-based colors align well with natural (organic) & wellness focused brands.
Natural ingredients provide consumer trust in many cases because consumers believe you have provided them a level of transparency and a quality product.
Plant-based colors can help reduce your carbon footprint as they come from sustainable agricultural-based renewable resources.
Most botanical color solutions will allow for vegan labeling for your plant-based products.
Reduced reliance on artificial additives is a trend being encouraged in many countries to improve health outcomes.
Production of synthetic color is frequently less expensive than that of natural dye when produced in mass quantities.
Natural dyes produce a consistent output in each batch for manufacturers.
Synthetic colors perform well in:
The availability of an extensive variety of synthetic colors provides producers with access to very vibrant and unique colors.
Raw materials vary due to seasonal and agricultural factors.
Processes for extraction and standardizing increase cost.
Formulating some natural pigments requires special knowledge.
May have issues based on the yield of crops and environmental conditions.
The modern consumer is increasingly scrutinizing the presence of artificial ingredients.
Many areas are continuing to review the usage of synthetic additives.
Artificial color declarations may or may not represent a company’s clean label position.
Many synthetic colors originate from petrochemical sources.
The “clean label” movement has consumers reading the ingredient list and wanting to see fewer ingredients listed.
Growth in plant-based foods and beverages is creating demand for natural color solutions.
Increased shopper expectations for more visibility regarding where their ingredients come from.
Increasing importance is placed on sustainability when making purchase decisions in all areas of consumerism.
Color additives used in food products must comply with regulations established by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
India’s FSSAI governs the rules that apply to artificial coloring agents used in packaged food.
Worldwide regulators continue to assess new ingredients, packaging claims, labeling claims, and transparency requirements.
Compliance with the laws of each country or region regarding the declaration of both natural and synthetic colorant usage.
Several markets are increasing scrutiny around certain synthetic colorants.
Natural colors are increasingly used in:
Manufacturers of premium product lines are using plant-based dyes instead of the artificial dyes that have been used until now.
The use of natural coloring agents helps to position these as “clean label” products.
Botanical colorants can be a good fit with the healthy orientation of many nutraceutical products.
Many consumers also tend to look favorably upon botanical or plant-derived ingredient usage within their personal care products.
Some natural coloring options may be developed specifically for particular pharmaceutical formulation applications.
Common applications:
Curcumin is one of the most common yellow colors derived from turmeric. It has been extensively utilized in all types of foods.
Beta-carotene is probably one of the most popular orange colors that are commonly found in beverages, baked goods and dairy products.
Chlorophyll is a green color and it is most often used to create health-focused and/or natural product-based formulations.
Phycocyanin is a blue pigment that is a natural by-product of Spirulina. As such, Phycocyanin is being increasingly viewed as an alternative to synthetic blue dyes.
Beetroot red is one of the most common red colors used throughout the beverage industry. It is also frequently found in confectionery and dairy products.
Different applications require different performance characteristics.
Assess:
Consumer expectations for products generally will impact what ingredients you choose (eg, some consumers want only natural ingredients).
Check that your product complies with regulatory requirements, as this could limit where it can be sold.
Compare the cost of using a plant-based colorant against the value added to your brand by using a plant-based colorant (ie, if you want to have a premium product, then plant-based might add enough value to justify the higher cost).
Better technology is allowing us to obtain better quality and availability of extracted colors.
Plant-based colors have been problematic in many applications due to their poor lightfastness and heat stability. New formulations are being developed that provide much better performance than existing plant-based colors.
Manufacturers continue to develop new, environmentally friendly processes to produce colors.
Data driven formulating tools are now available that allow manufacturers to formulate the best-performing, most consistent colors.
Plant-based colors are natural pigments obtained from botanical sources such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, roots, spices, and algae.
Both approved plant-based and synthetic colors must meet applicable safety regulations. Consumer preference for plant-based colors is largely driven by clean-label and natural ingredient trends.
Brands are responding to growing consumer demand for transparency, clean labels, and sustainable ingredients.
Performance depends on the application. Modern plant-based colors can perform exceptionally well in many formulations, although some applications may still favor synthetic alternatives.
Food and beverage, nutraceutical, personal care, and premium consumer goods sectors are among the largest adopters.
Not generally. Approved synthetic colors remain legal in many markets, although regulations vary by region.
They originate from recognizable natural sources, helping brands create ingredient lists that align with clean-label expectations.
The future is expected to be driven by innovation, sustainability, improved stability, and increasing consumer demand for natural ingredients.
Plant-based and synthetic colours have their own merits. Synthetic colour remains an option for good colour strength, rich shade options, cost benefits, etc. Yet there has been a growing consumer trend towards “clean label” products, which has increased demand for plant-based alternative colourants. The ultimate decision will depend upon what is required by your finished product, how it will be processed, who your target customers are, what the local regulations regarding food dyes are, as well as how you want to position your brand in the future.
Koel Colour can support manufacturers in developing their high-performance coloured products that meet the needs of the current market trends, whether you desire bright natural shades, innovative clean labels, or enhanced performance with our colourant technology.