In a world defined by constant motion, competing demands and digital noise, color is increasingly called upon to do more than decorate. It must restore balance, create clarity and support intentional design choices that feel both grounded and enduring.

For 2026, the Color Solutions business unit within Vibrantz Technologies introduces its Color of the Year: Infinity Blue—a deep, calming blue that reflects humanity’s growing desire for stillness, reflection and meaningful connection in everyday spaces.

Selected by Vibrantz’s global color science and commercial experts, Infinity Blue is guided by extensive trend research and real-world market insight. The result is a hue that feels timeless yet forward-looking—offering both emotional resonance and practical versatility across applications.

A color inspired by depth, balance and possibility

Infinity Blue draws inspiration from the vastness of the ocean and the openness of the sky. It is a color that invites pause—evoking clarity, calm and quiet confidence—while maintaining the depth and strength required for modern design.

As consumers seek environments that promote well-being and intentional living, blue continues to emerge as a trusted anchor. Infinity Blue goes beyond familiarity, offering a contemplative tone that balances serenity with substance. It supports spaces designed for restoration and focus, while remaining adaptable enough for bold architectural statements and refined industrial finishes.

Shaping color direction across markets and materials

Forecasted to influence color application trends across architectural coatings, industrial paints and thermoset plastics, Infinity Blue provides designers and manufacturers with a versatile foundation for 2026 and beyond.

Its ability to pair seamlessly with both warm and cool colors makes it ideal for layered, sophisticated color palettes—whether used as a dominant shade or a grounding accent. From residential and commercial interiors to durable industrial and specialty applications, Infinity Blue delivers depth without heaviness and calm without compromise.

“Infinity Blue reflects the clarity, calm and intentional design direction we see shaping markets worldwide,” said Barry Misquitta, president of Color Solutions at Vibrantz Technologies. “Our teams are deeply engaged in understanding global color behavior, material trends and the needs of our customers. Selecting this hue underscores our commitment to delivering innovative, high-performing and more sustainable solutions.”

A global color story, interpreted locally

Recognizing that color preferences are shaped by culture, environment and regional trends, Vibrantz will unveil four complementary Color of the Year palettes for North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Each regional palette is centered around Infinity Blue while incorporating locally relevant hues that reflect emerging design influences and customer needs in those markets. Together, these palettes reinforce Vibrantz’s global perspective—ensuring customers have access to color solutions that are both trend-driven and regionally resonant.

Designed for today. Built for what’s next.

Infinity Blue is more than a color—it’s a reflection of how people want to feel in the spaces they inhabit and the products they use. It represents confidence without excess, calm without complacency and creativity grounded in purpose.

Through its Color of the Year program, Vibrantz continues to translate global trends into actionable, high-performance color solutions—helping customers anticipate change, inspire design and bring meaningful color to life.

Explore Infinity Blue and discover how Vibrantz’s 2026 Color of the Year can shape your next design.

As sustainability expectations accelerate across the coatings industry, Vibrantz Technologies continues to lead with data-backed innovation. From cradle to gate, our Pearls solid colorant tinting system demonstrates measurable reductions in CO₂ emissions, waste and resource use—positioning it as one of the most sustainable tinting solutions available today.

This milestone demonstrates how design rooted in environmental responsibility—paired with tangible performance advantages—can help coatings manufacturers and retailers advance their own sustainability goals.

A clean, emission-free approach to color

From the start, Pearls was engineered to revolutionize tinting by eliminating unnecessary ingredients and reducing environmental impact at every stage.

Pearls doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients such as humectants, biocides, preservatives or disruptive additives. This enables paint manufacturers to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly, emission-free paints without compromising color performance.

The solid colorant system maintains full color integrity during both production and tinting, aligning with increasing eco-conscious consumer preferences for safer, low-VOC coatings.

Circular design from concept to commercialization

Sustainability principles guided the Pearls concept from its earliest development through large-scale manufacturing.

At every stage of production, we have worked to use our resources as effectively as possible. Materials that fall out of specification are recycled back into production or repurposed elsewhere, while packaging is made entirely from recycled materials or designed for full recyclability.

Efficient packaging and storage further minimize transport emissions, reinforcing our commitment to lifecycle optimization.

LCA confirms real-world environmental gains

The LCA results quantify what makes Pearls a breakthrough in sustainable tinting. By eliminating certain chemical compounds and minimizing waste, Pearls reduces global warming potential (GWP) and overall energy use throughout the value chain.

While ingredient selection is the largest contributor to Pearls’ lower GWP, additional benefits such as less waste in containers and reduced maintenance requirements for dispensers also improve the environmental profile.

Together, these efficiencies contribute to a 15% reduction in carbon footprint per square meter of coated surface versus a conventional tinting solution—an important benchmark for manufacturers seeking to meet or exceed sustainability targets.

Why it matters

Compared to conventional liquid colorants, Pearls’ overall environmental impact is significantly lower throughout its lifecycle. Reduced waste generation, alonger shelf life, fewer raw materials in the formulation and higher pigment load all contribute to its reduced CO₂ emissions and GWP. These attributes make Pearls not only a cleaner choice—but a smarter, longer-lasting one.

Supporting people and purpose

Beyond environmental metrics, Pearls delivers operational and social benefits. The clean, service-friendly concept reduces mess, minimizes heavy lifting, and simplifies tinting processes for store associates and production staff. It is about protecting people as much as the planet.

Simplified labeling, fewer ingredients and less waste also support safer workplaces and more transparent products.

Driving continuous improvement

Vibrantz continues to scale the Pearls technology globally, investing in energy-efficient production, sustainable raw materials and renewable energy use across its facilities. Continuous investments in process efficiency and energy reduction at Vibrantz’s growing production site in Sittard, Netherlands further lower Pearls’ lifecycle emissions, demonstrating how scaling up can actually mean scaling down environmental impact. These efforts align with the company’s broader CSR roadmap to lower emissions, enhance product circularity and empower customers to reach their sustainability goals. With a verified 15% lower carbon footprint and a cleaner, simpler tinting process, Pearls demonstrates how sustainability and performance can truly go hand in hand—empowering paint manufacturers to achieve measurable climate goals without compromising color quality or customer experience. Learn more here.