Sensient Colors LLC, St. Louis, a leader in color for food and beverage applications, added aseptic packaging capabilities. Sensient Colors is well known for color innovation and proprietary technologies including Fusion Precise Natural Colors.
 
Sensient Food Colors, one of the largest business units of Sensient Technologies Corp., made a capital investment to add aseptic packaging capabilities. Aseptic packaging capabilities offer customers preservative-free colors that deliver maximum shelf life and, as an additional benefit, enhance sustainability, the company said.
 
“Our customers want preservative-free natural colors to align with consumer demand for wholesome, clean label declarations for food and beverage products,” said Steve Morris, commercial director of the United States Food Group. “Eliminating preservatives from natural color systems significantly reduces shelf life. With our new aseptic packaging system, we are able to offer customers preservative-free natural colors that have a shelf life comparable to a preserved color. Our aseptic packaging also aligns with our sustainability policy, as well as those of many of our customers. Our new packaging reduces waste and is completely recyclable, minimizing the carbon footprint.”
 
Packaging is now available in sizes more conveniently aligned with usage from as small as one-half gallon containers to large totes.
 
“In addition to the clear benefits of aseptic, our new aseptic packaging plant simplifies the supply chain by removing steps from the process to minimize risk,” said David Gebhardt, director of manufacturing, Color Group.
 
This capital investment is one of a series of investments Sensient has made in defining the future of natural color. In April 2010, a $16 million expansion to the St. Louis manufacturing plant made it the largest and most advanced natural colors plant in North America.