Lifocolor at Fakuma 2026 Masterbatches as a Response to Tighter Regulations

At Fakuma 2026, Lifocolor will tailor its masterbatch offerings to comply with revised EU regulations. The portfolio includes NIR-detectable black and silver masterbatches, solutions for switching from HDPE to PET, and tiered compliance concepts for the Food Contact Regulation. 

The regulatory framework for the plastics industry has become more stringent. With the PPWR taking effect on August 12, 2026, new requirements regarding PFAS and bisphenol A, and the end of the transition period for the Food Contact Regulation (EU) 2025/351, legal regulations are directly impacting product design and material formulations. 

European regulations require adjustments to material composition as well as expanded documentation throughout the entire supply chain. Masterbatch manufacturer Lifocolor has adapted its portfolio to these changed conditions in order to offer processors and compounders additive and color concentrates that comply with both technical and regulatory requirements. Lifocolor will present its new solutions at Fakuma 2026.

Tiered Conformity Framework for Food Contact

Amendment Regulation 2025/351 amends the key EU Plastics Regulation 10/2011 governing plastics intended to come into contact with food. The transition period ends on September 16, 2026. Lifocolor has therefore reorganized its portfolio according to clearly distinguishable application profiles.

Due to the expiring transition period, Lifocolor is organizing its product portfolio according to application profiles. For direct food contact, raw materials with specific qualifications and complete compliance documentation are available. Standard applications will continue to be served without additional documentation requirements. This classification allows processors to tailor the documentation effort and material costs specifically to the respective application.

PET Surface Modification and NIR Sortability

With Velvet PET, Lifocolor introduces a masterbatch that gives PET bottles a velvety-soft appearance and texture similar to that of HDPE extrusion-blow-molded bottles. This enables brand manufacturers who do not want to compromise on the appearance of HDPE bottles to switch to PET monomaterials. Particularly in the context of PPWR, this monomaterial design enhances recyclability. Velvet PET can be processed as an additive masterbatch in existing ISBM (injection stretch blow molding) lines and is approved for food contact.

To implement the PPWR, Lifocolor is highlighting, for the first time, laser-markable, NIR-detectable black masterbatches. These masterbatches combine two requirements in a single product: dark packaging can be identified in automated sorting systems and permanently marked with a laser without the use of printing inks.

In addition, NIR-detectable silver masterbatches for metallic finishes are available, as well as the Lifecycle portfolio of recyclable color masterbatches, color balancing in rPET, and recycled-based product protection.

Temperature-resistant effects and polymer-specific formulations

Effect masterbatches approved for food contact have been developed for decorative applications, including holographic effects with coated glitter pigments, granite-like finishes with a sandstone or cork appearance, and metallic surface textures. The thermal stability of these effect carriers accommodates processing methods at temperatures ranging from 280 °C to 300 °C.

In the field of engineering plastics, polymer-identical formulations are used. For sensitive applications in the toy, medical, and pharmaceutical industries, production follows a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) concept with specific hygiene requirements and analytical testing, while mono-concentrates (single pigment concentrates) help compounders and recyclers compensate for fluctuations in recycled material quality. mg