Light-blocking additive: packaging needs not only to be white but also to protect the product

In food and beverage packaging, color is not only about branding. For light-sensitive products such as ESL dairy, packaging needs light-blocking performance to help protect product quality and reduce spoilage risk.

Avient has introduced ColorMatrix Lactra ESL, a light-blocking additive solution for dairy packaging. According to the company, the solution is designed to provide light protection while supporting whiteness and potentially reducing TiO2 levels compared with some traditional approaches.

This shows that masterbatch in modern packaging is not simply “white” or “black”. It is a performance system that balances appearance, product protection, cost, processability and packaging design goals.

For packaging manufacturers, light-sensitive applications require evaluation of UV/light barrier needs, packaging thickness, layer structure, shelf-life requirements, printability and storage conditions. The right masterbatch can help packaging perform its protective function more effectively.

This trend is especially relevant for food, beverage, cosmetics and products with ingredients sensitive to light exposure.