Reversing the Toxic Legacy of Black Pigments

By Jane Palmer, CEO of Nature Coatings

When I founded Nature Coatings, it wasn’t because I wanted to build just another pigment company—it was because I had seen too much. Years spent working in the fashion and printing industries exposed me to how deeply embedded toxic materials like carbon black are in our supply chains. Once I knew what was inside those rich black inks, paints, and fabrics, I couldn’t unsee it. And I couldn’t ignore how little was being done to change it.

For over a century, carbon black has been the go-to black pigment across industries. Its versatility is why it appears in everything from mascara and eyeliner to plastic packaging, textiles, architectural paints, and tire rubber. But its origin—derived from the incomplete combustion of petroleum—makes it inherently problematic. Its toxic profile, particularly due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nanoparticle risks, has gone under-recognized.

Carbon black particles are often nanoscale, which means they’re small enough to penetrate the skin, lungs, and even pass into the bloodstream. These particles often carry PAHs, some of which are classified by the World Health Organization and IARC as possible human carcinogens (Group 2B). Even more troubling, many industrial uses coat these particles in PFAS chemicals to enhance dispersion and performance—introducing an entirely new layer of toxicity that has been linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, and long-term environmental persistence.

And while the average consumer may not be aware of these risks, those of us in manufacturing and R&D know better. The factory workers inhaling pigment dust, the engineers selecting raw materials for food containers, and the formulators working on things like cosmetics or toys —they’ve seen the Material Safety Data Sheets. They know the implications of chronic exposure. So the question isn’t whether we should find an alternative. The question is: Why haven’t we already?

That’s why we created BioBlack™, a non-toxic, bio-based black pigment made entirely from FSC-certified wood waste. Our closed-loop thermal conversion process produces a rich, high-performing pigment without the need for fossil fuels, synthetic additives, or carcinogenic residues. It was important to me that we didn’t just make something cleaner—we had to make it better.

BioBlack™ meets or exceeds performance specifications in a wide range of applications. In cosmetics, it offers jetness and dispersibility comparable to high-grade carbon black without the PAHs, nano-particles, and it passes EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009—something many U.S.-legal pigments can’t claim. In textiles, BioBlack™ is fully compliant with OEKO-TEX®, GOTS, ECOPASSPORT, Standard 100 and ZDHC MRSL, giving fashion brands a safe black pigment that doesn’t compromise on washfastness or print precision.

In food-grade barrier coatings for paper board and plastics, we meet the standards set by EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR for indirect food contact. And for architectural and industrial paints, BioBlack™ enables manufacturers to meet VOC-free and heavy-metal-free labeling, simplifying compliance across global markets.

We’ve also passed independent evaluations under the USDA BioPreferred Program, which certifies that 98% of BioBlack’s carbon content is biogenic, not fossil-derived. That means when a company chooses BioBlack, they’re not just avoiding toxins—they’re reducing Scope 3 emissions by as much as 85% and contributing to circular economy goals.

Still, the most compelling reason to switch is human health. Our pigment contains no detectable PAHs, no PFAs, no heavy metals, and is non-nanomaterial. It’s not just safer to use—it’s safer to manufacture, to apply, and to live with in our daily lives. Whether it's the worker screen printing t-shirts with black prints, the chemist developing packaging for organic granola, or the parent applying eyeliner before work, BioBlack™ offers a better path forward.

So to every R&D director, formulation chemist, packaging engineer, and sustainability lead who’s ever looked at a product spec and thought, “There has to be a better way”—you’re right. There is. BioBlack™ isn’t a compromise; it’s a correction. It’s what happens when performance and safety are no longer at odds. Now is the moment to contact us and join the scores of brands, manufacturers, and innovators who are choosing a clean solution over toxic fossil fuels.