Black pigment is a well-known and widely used ingredient in cosmetics, especially in makeup products — from mascaras and eyeliners to lipsticks and tinted skincare.
Rethinking black pigments in cosmetics
Traditionally derived from fossil fuels, black pigments raise concerns on environmental and health issues.
Carbon black contains carcinogens called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which may be harmful to human health. Its manufacturing also results in millions of tons of CO2 emissions. One ton of carbon black pigment produces circa 3.3 tons of CO2 emissions.
In parallel, each year, 50 millions tons of wood waste are created in the US alone. Industrial wood waste is a critical issue. It disrupts carbon absorption and releases stored carbon into the atmosphere as CO2, through burning or decay, exacerbating environmental concerns.
In response to these challenges, driven by the need for cleaner and safer alternatives, we are proud to introduce a new type of black pigment to our portfolio: BioBlack™, made from wood waste.
A clean, circular pigment — made from wood waste
BioBlack™ is an innovative, patented black pigment created using pre-consumer industrial wood waste from the furniture, flooring, and paper industries.
It offers a more sustainable and responsible alternative to petroleum-derived carbon black.
The manufacturing process is circular by design: no chemicals added, no burning — the only by-product is steam, which is reused to help power the production facility.
This ingredient combines safety, sustainability, and strong performance:
- 100% bio-based
- No detectable PAHs, VOCs, PFAs or other carcinogens
- Carbon-negative: –2.25 kg of CO₂ per kg produced
- REACH, TSCA, EU 10/2011, EN71-3 compliant
- Cost-competitive with traditional black pigments
- Excellent lightfastness and a clean blue undertone
A safe, sustainable and versatile black pigment
Thanks to its safety profile and technical performance, BioBlack™ is an excellent fit for a wide range of cosmetic applications, including:
- Mascaras and eyeliners
- Eyeshadows and pencils
- Lipsticks and tinted balms
- Natural and clean beauty lines
- Sensitive-skin formulations
Its rich, deep black color with a desirable blue undertone makes it suitable even for premium and high-performance formulas.
Ready to switch to a cleaner black?
With BioBlack™, Formulance offers a modern, sustainable solution to one of the most widely used ingredients in cosmetics.
If you’re looking to combine high performance with environmental responsibility, this pigment is a smart addition to your formulation toolbox.
For samples or more information, contact us at: info@formulance.com
