Bio-based structural color coatings for sustainable packaging
Cypris Materials offers bio-renewable structural color coatings that replace traditional pigments and dyes in packaging applications. The platform uses self-assembling block copolymers to produce vivid, tunable colors without toxic chemicals, simplifying manufacturing while broadening the color gamut.
Overview
Cypris Materials has developed a structural color coating platform inspired by nature's photonic structures. The technology uses proprietary brush block copolymers that self-assemble into photonic crystals, producing vivid, tunable colors without the need for traditional pigments, dyes, metals, or toxic additives. The current formulation is approximately 50% biorenewable polymer content, offering a more sustainable alternative to conventional colorants used in packaging and other industrial applications.
The coatings function as both a binder and a colorant in a single system, designed as a drop-in solution for existing paint and ink application processes such as spraying and screen printing. This eliminates the need for manufacturers to retool or significantly modify their production lines while reducing environmental hazards and supply chain complexities associated with conventional colorant production.
Technical specifications
- Bio-based composition: Approximately 50% biorenewable polymer content, reducing reliance on petroleum-derived materials.
- Photonic crystal color: Self-assembling brush block copolymers produce structural color through light interaction rather than chemical absorption, eliminating the need for toxic pigments or dyes.
- Drop-in compatibility: Functions as both binder and colorant, compatible with existing spray and screen printing application methods.
- Tunable color range: Enables vivid, customizable colors that can broaden the color gamut available to packaging manufacturers.
- Safer chemistry: Free of toxic chemicals, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), addressing regulatory and environmental concerns.
Technology readiness level
The technology has demonstrated proof of concept at lab scale and is currently being validated through partnerships with converters to demonstrate application on factory production lines. Ongoing work is focused on further assessing the suitability of these structural color coatings for industrially relevant packaging applications. The core intellectual property has been successfully commercialized through a sale to a global coatings company.
About Cypris Materials, Inc.
Cypris Materials, Inc. developed a sustainable structural color platform inspired by nature, offering a safer, scalable alternative to traditional pigments and dyes. The company utilized proprietary copolymer-based coating technology, leveraging brush block copolymers that self-assemble into photonic crystals. This allowed for the creation of vivid, tunable colors without the use of toxic chemicals, metals, or polychlorinated biphenyls. The technology was designed as a drop-in solution for existing paint and ink systems, functioning as both a binder and colorant while eliminating the environmental hazards and supply chain complexities associated with conventional colorant production.
This technology aimed to address significant sustainability challenges across industries such as coatings, packaging, automotive, and consumer goods. By enabling a cleaner, bio-inspired approach to color, Cypris Materials provided a way for manufacturers to improve their environmental footprint without requiring significant changes to existing application processes like spraying or screen printing. Following the successful development and commercialization of its materials, the company completed the sale of its core intellectual property to a global coatings company and officially ceased operations in August 2025.
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