Plastic recycling has a dark side

Every year, more than 15 million metric tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans – a key indicator of the global waste crisis. Despite advances in recycling systems, one category of packaging is still a stubborn blind spot: black and dark-colored plastics. Traditionally colored with carbon black pigments, these materials absorb rather than reflect near-infrared (NIR) light.

This matters because modern recycling facilities depend on NIR detection systems to find, sort and route plastics into the correct waste streams. When dark packaging passes undetected, it is mislabeled as “unsortable” and often sent straight to landfills or incineration. This invisible barrier has made black packaging synonymous with lack of recyclability, which undermines circular economy goals.

At the same time, dark packaging is beloved by consumers and brands. The color black denotes elegance, intelligence and authority, while other deep tones signal confidence and sophistication. Color psychology can influence 85% of customers’ purchase decisions, making it a non-negotiable element of brand identity. The result: companies have faced a frustrating tradeoff in sustainability-versus-design.

Applications across industries

Black and dark plastics are everywhere, from food trays and beverage bottles to personal care packaging and durable consumer goods. In the U.S. alone, they represent 15% of plastic waste, overall. Meanwhile, proposed legislation, such as the Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act of 2024, is pushing for 30% recyclable content in packaging by 2030.

These pressures ripple across the value chain. Brand owners face costs to redesign or substitute materials. Waste management companies struggle with inefficiencies in sorting. Increasingly eco-conscious consumers grow skeptical of sustainability claims when “recyclable” dark packaging ends up polluting the environment.

The question is clear: how can the industry reconcile consumer desire for sleek, dark packaging with the planet’s urgent need for sustainable solutions?

See in the dark with NIR technology

The solution lies in rethinking pigments, not abandoning color. NIR-reflective pigments make black and dark plastics visible to NIR detectors, allowing sorting machines to identify them accurately and recycle them alongside lighter-colored plastics.

Unlike carbon black, which absorbs NIR light, Vibrantz’s pigments reflect it, effectively unlocking the unique “fingerprint” of each polymer. In practical terms, this means that a black polypropylene shampoo bottle or a dark PET tray can now be recognized as recyclable material in sorting facilities. Trials at facilities like TOMRA and PICVISA have shown that plastics colored with Vibrantz pigments are detected easily and reliably.

The beauty of this solution is that it preserves the consumer-facing benefits of dark packaging, such as brand identity, shelf appeal and emotional resonance, without sacrificing recyclability. The switch to NIR pigments is cost-effective compared to redesigning packaging or changing materials entirely, and the end consumer perceives no difference in look or feel.

Vibrantz’s role: Pioneering sustainable pigment solutions

Vibrantz has taken a leadership position in this space, pioneering two first-to-market NIR pigment technologies:

  • Food-grade solutions, designed for applications like sushi trays, which meet strict migration standards (FDA-approved and compliant with EU 10/2011).
  • Commodity-grade solutions, ideal for broader consumer packaging and durable goods.

By combining expertise in material science, advanced formulation technology, and responsible sourcing, Vibrantz ensures that its pigments satisfy both expectations for performance and standards for regulation and sustainability.

Collaborations have been central to progress. Through partnerships with plastic collectors and sorters in Spain and technology providers such as PICVISA, Vibrantz has shown how pigment innovation can improve recyclability at scale.

black plastics

The big picture: Circularity, policy and opportunity

As policymakers and organizations push toward a global plastics treaty that prioritizes circularity, solutions like NIR pigments will be powerful enablers. They bridge the gap between ambitious goals and practical implementation and can help industries adapt without compromising the consumer experience.

Manufacturers that adopt NIR pigments can address mounting pressures from regulations, consumer expectations and brand commitments. For waste management companies, NIR pigments can reduce inefficiencies and contamination. For society at large, NIR pigments can be an incremental but impactful step toward reducing the plastic in our landfills and oceans.

A future where color meets circularity

Sustainability goals sometimes drive difficult tradeoffs, but black and dark plastics need not be among them. By making the invisible visible, Vibrantz’s NIR pigments help industries embrace the dark, confident that color, consumer appeal and recyclability can coexist.

As sustainability imperatives continue to reshape global manufacturing, Vibrantz’s NIR pigments illustrate how a targeted innovation can unlock large-scale progress. By applying science-backed solutions, the Vibrantz team continues to create a future where packaging is both beautiful and sustainable.

See it live at K 2025

Curious to experience NIR pigments in action? Visit Vibrantz at the K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany this October. Stop by Hall 8A Booth K31 as we’ll be showcasing how our NIR pigment technology makes dark plastics truly recyclable, with the PICVISA sorting machine demonstrating real-time detection and separation of items. It’s a firsthand look at how science-backed innovation is driving a more sustainable, circular plastics economy.

Dani Lladó

Global Product Manager, Plastics

Dani Lladó

Global Product Manager, Plastics

Lladó has more than 20 years of technical and commercial experience in the pigments industry. He joined Nubiola (later acquired by Ferro) in 2004 where he held various technical and marketing roles related to plastics. Lladó  resides in Barcelona and has a chemistry degree from the Universidad de Barcelona and a master’s degree in marketing from EADA Business School.