Natural colors are pigments and dyes made from plants, minerals, or animals sourced directly. Their advantage over synthetic alternatives lies in reduced chemical dependency as well as sustainable harvesting practices.
Natural hues can help bring balance and harmony into designs while simultaneously supporting sustainability, which has become a more pressing concern among consumers.
They are aesthetically pleasing
Nature-inspired colors can add a delightfully organic aesthetic to your designs, while still being environmentally sustainable and cost effective. Recently, natural hues have grown increasingly popular as consumers become aware of the health and environmental risks associated with synthetic dyes.
These natural colors are created using plant, mineral and animal pigments; they are less expensive than their synthetic alternatives and offer more vibrant hues that cannot be replicated using artificial dyes. Furthermore, natural colors have gained acceptance within premium and clean-label markets where many stores and brands prohibit artificial dye use.
Nature provides us with beautiful colors to inspire our color theory decisions, such as complimentary and analogous palettes. Earth tones like browns and terracotta often evoke feelings of warmth and stability when combined with warm accent colors like sunset oranges and golden yellows – these palettes often act as mood boosters as well.
They are safe
As consumers increasingly express concern over synthetic food dyes, many are turning to natural alternatives as an option for coloring foods safely and aesthetically. Manufacturers offer many natural colors derived from plants, vegetables, fruit seeds or minerals for coloring food aesthetically and safely – from vibrant reds to deep purples that can be found anywhere from soft drinks to cookies!
Turmeric, annatto and carmine are three popular natural colorants used in food products and cosmetic applications. Turmeric provides foods with a bright yellow to deep orange shade while Annatto can produce both water-based and oil-soluble solutions; Carmine offers food grade reddish dye that’s suitable for cosmetic and food purposes.
Natural colorants are more environmentally conscious than their synthetic counterparts, as their production typically requires toxic chemicals that pollute the environment while natural hues come from renewable and sustainable resources.
They are environmentally friendly
Natural colors derived from plants offer a range of hues to create beautiful images, while being more environmentally-friendly than synthetic dyes made of toxic substances. Available as liquid, powder and gel formulas, natural colors can be applied directly onto surfaces for art, textile design or home decor applications.
Many natural colorants possess unique properties that can alter the outcome of products, such as pH sensitivity or temperature sensitivity. Purple carrot extract may produce vibrant red colors in certain products while it could change to become bluish-gray in others. Other popular natural hues include hibiscus, annatto, and turmeric.
Natural food and beverage colors are an ideal solution for food and beverage manufacturers because they’re made from real ingredients like beet juice, turmeric and spirulina. Furthermore, these natural colors offer an appealing alternative to chemical additives which have been linked to health concerns or hyperactivity among children, and tend to be more stable than artificial colors in various applications.
They are sustainable
Natural colors differ from synthetic dyes in that they come from plant, animal or mineral sources without harmful chemicals. Consumers also often associate natural hues with being healthier and cleaner products and better-for-you ingredients – these options allow brands to meet consumer expectations for clean label products with healthy ingredients.
Natural dyes offer an enormous spectrum of colors ranging from bright electric shades to subtle pastel tones, making them far more versatile than synthetic alternatives. Plus, their chemical stability means they stand up to heat exposure, pH changes and oxidation more readily than synthetic solutions.
Sustainable dyes such as Archroma’s EarthColors are produced using less water and energy to produce than synthetic ones, while using renewable and sustainable resources derived from agriculture or herbal industries to minimize water footprint, natural resource impacts and climate change – in turn supporting a circular economy.
