X-Rite, Pantone and Sun Chemical Release New Eco-Kraft Corrugated Packaging Library for PantoneLIVE

Using the Eco-Kraft library in PantoneLIVE, brands and converters can set achievable expectations for producing color on recycled corrugated board used in food, ecommerce and other packaging applications.

X-Rite Incorporated, Pantone LLC, and Sun Chemical announce a new Eco-Kraft corrugated board dependent color library for PantoneLIVE™, a cloud-based digital color standard ecosystem. The new library enables converters to set achievable expectations to produce Pantone color standards on corrugated board made from recycled materials.

Now available as part of the PantoneLIVE Production – Print and Packaging subscription, the Eco-Kraft library was built using a brown Kraft substrate with a substantially higher recycled content than in the previous libraries. The result is a base substrate color that is more chromatic. This new library captures the closest achievable match to the core Pantone Matching System colors that can be produced on Eco-Kraft substrate using water-based inks and flexographic printing.

“Consumers consider sustainability when making purchasing decisions and companies are responding by incorporating more recycled materials in their packaging,” said Chris Brooks, President, X-Rite. “With the addition of the Eco-Kraft library in PantoneLIVE, brands and their packaging suppliers can now see how a Pantone color will reproduce on recycled Eco-Kraft board and get recommendations on setting achievable and realistic color targets for this sustainable packaging substrate.”

“The market trend towards more sustainable substrates and inks opened a space for the creation of a new PantoneLIVE dependant library for the water-based market,” said Nicolas Betin, Global Sustainability Business Leader, Sun Chemical.

“We are glad to support X-Rite and Pantone in creating this new water-based library and we are ready at the local level with color management tools and processes to support customers matching these new color targets,” added Patrice Aurenty, Global Business Leader for Color Management, Sun Chemical.

With over 84,000 Pantone color choices for the top packaging and printing applications, PantoneLIVE enables brand owners, designers, and printers to feel confident in selecting color standards that are achievable in production, resulting in improved speed to market and reduced press approvals, waste and rework.

PantoneLIVE is part of X-Rite’s digital color workflow and integrates with InkFormulation Software, ColorCert™ Suite, and X-Rite spectrophotometers such as the new eXact 2. With streamlined color communication, faster ink formulation, and improved quality control, brands, and printers can drive efficiencies and improve sustainability efforts.

For more information on PantoneLIVE, visit https://www.xrite.com/pantonelive-production

About X-Rite

Founded in 1958, X-Rite Incorporated is a global leader in the science and technology of color and appearance. With Pantone, X-Rite employs more than 800 people in 11 countries. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, with regional headquarters in Europe and Asia and service centers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. X-Rite offers a full range of solutions used by manufacturers, retailers, printers, and graphic design houses to achieve precise management and communication of color and appearance throughout their processes. X-Rite products and services are recognized standards in the printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles and medical industries. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com. For the latest news, information, connect with X-Rite on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Pantone

Pantone provides the universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate, and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical color specification and workflow tools. The Pantone Color Institute™ provides customized color standards, brand identity and product color consulting as well as trend forecasting inclusive of Pantone Color of the Year, Fashion Runway Color Trend Reports, color psychology and more. Pantone B2B Licensing incorporates the Pantone Color System into different products and services, enabling licensees to communicate and reproduce certified Pantone values and improve efficiencies for their users. Pantone Lifestyle brings color and design together across apparel, home, and accessories. Learn more at www.pantone.com.

About Sun Chemical

Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group, is a leading producer of packaging and graphic solutions, color and display technologies, functional products, electronic materials, and products for the automotive and healthcare industries. Together with DIC, Sun Chemical is continuously working to promote and develop sustainable solutions to exceed customer expectations and better the world around us. With combined annual sales of more than $8.5 billion and 22,000+ employees worldwide, the DIC Group companies support a diverse collection of global customers.

Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A. For more information, please visit our website at www.sunchemical.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.

# # #

©2022 X-Rite, Inc. All rights reserved.