Oterra extends partnership with Seprify for Titanium Dioxide white colouring alternative

Danish-headquartered natural colours group, Oterra has signed a notable deal with Swiss business Seprify to develop a plant-based white colouring replacing titanium dioxide (TiO₂) with confectionery and across wider food ranges, reports Neill Barston.

According to the company, the agreement will see an integration of Seprify’s patented cellulose-based technology into its own clean label offerings, that will provide key customer benefits in broader product development.

As a registered form of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), the company asserted that it can be used across food and beverage categories, which is understood to include confectionery ranges, in compliance with EU and US regulations.

Oterra will reportedly be able to offer customers a renewable alternative that matches the opacity, brightness and whitening effect of titanium dioxide, while significantly reducing environmental impact. Trials are said to already be underway for the new product series, which have yielded positive results.

Significantly, the two companies have already been collaborating for more than two years, testing across more than 15 food categories — from bakery icings, confectionery coatings and sauces to plant-based dairy and meat, and powdered beverages.

Seprify’s proprietary extraction technology produces particles inspired by natural structures that scatter light in a particular way to create a bright white surface.

“Oterra has developed one of the largest portfolios of natural colors in response to growing consumer demand for alternatives to artificial colors. While we have good, natural raw materials to replace titanium dioxide in selected applications, this new source of white gives us better options for a broader range of food and beverage applications,” said Luc Ganivet, Chief Innovation Officer, Oterra.

“The sustainability profile of the technology means that Oterra can also get closer to its goals of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released. Together with Seprify, we’re ensuring that performance, safety, and sustainability go hand in hand for the next generation of food formulations.”

The advantages of the titanium dioxide alternative include, Easy and fast dispersion, excellent whitening properties, Light, heat and pH stable, lower dosages than other alternatives, neutral flavour and odour.

Moreover, the new white is produced from microcrystalline cellulose sourced from FSC-certified virgin wood pulp. The wood pulp used is 100% renewable. It is estimated that it creates 80% lower CO2 emissions versus titanium dioxide. It is also nano-compliant and food safe.

“Oterra’s scale and formulation expertise make them the ideal partner to bring our cellulose innovation into mainstream food applications,” said Dr. Lukas Schertel, CEO and co-founder of Seprify. “Together, we’re proving that natural materials can deliver the same whitening performance as titanium dioxide while cutting CO₂ and meeting new legislative demands. It’s a major step toward making sustainable ingredients the default choice for global food brands.”

“This partnership marks the next chapter in Seprify’s growth — translating scientific validation into commercial momentum,” said Oliver Polcher, Chief Business Officer and co-founder of Seprify. “By combining Oterra’s global reach with our scalable cellulose platform, we’re accelerating market adoption and building the commercial infrastructure for Seprify’s next growth phase. It’s a clear signal that sustainable ingredients can compete — and win — at industrial scale.”