Black Magic and Bright Futures: How Cabot Is Quietly Shaping Inkjet's Digital Packaging Revolution

This article is inspired by a recent podcast interview with Lionel and Susan. Listen here, or click the image below.

In the often-overlooked but critically important world of inkjet printing, one company has remained a steadfast—and quietly powerful—force for nearly three decades. Cabot Corporation, a name more commonly associated with carbon black and particle science, has cemented its position as an innovation leader in water-based pigment dispersions, quietly supplying the colour foundations of much of the digital print industry.

While dispersions may be rarely in the limelight, Cabot’s influence runs deep. The firm’s unique vertical integration—manufacturing both the carbon black used in dispersions and the dispersions themselves—provides a level of quality control and technical insight that few, if any, rivals can match. For customers navigating the complexities of food packaging, sustainability, and regulatory compliance, this makes Cabot an unusually valuable partner.

“We're a particle science company at heart,” says Lionel Petton, Cabot’s Senior Technical Services Manager for inkjet, speaking from Brittany in the west of France. “What makes us successful is not only the technology but the flexibility it offers. We’ve been supporting inkjet customers for nearly 30 years, and we’re just getting started.”

Cabot’s Cabo-Jet range of dispersions—meticulously engineered pigment suspensions used in inkjet formulations—is quietly powering the transformation of digital print for packaging. Digital, of course, is widely seen as the future of packaging, offering brand owners flexibility, speed, and customisation at a scale analogue cannot match. Yet inkjet printing for packaging is far more demanding than printing onto paper. It requires durability, consistency, food safety, and regulatory compliance across different markets—requirements that turn ink chemistry into both an art and a science.

The Particle Advantage

At the core of Cabot’s offering is a deep command of particle engineering. Their dispersions come in two main flavours: surface-modified and encapsulated polymer types. The former relies on electrostatic stabilisation—introducing charges to pigment surfaces to keep them suspended and stable—while the latter coats pigment particles in polymers, providing further formulation flexibility.

This dual-technology approach allows Cabot to tailor dispersions for varied applications, from corrugated to flexible packaging. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all space,” Petton explains. “Different substrates, different machines, even different brand expectations—all of these affect what kind of dispersion is needed.”

Where Cabot distinguishes itself most is in its control of carbon black, the cornerstone pigment for black inks and a frequent regulatory flashpoint due to potential impurities. As both producer and formulator, Cabot can select precise grades for food-contact applications, exceeding standards for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are tightly regulated due to their potential toxicity.

This level of vertical integration is rare. It enables both precision in product development and a powerful regulatory edge. “Our internal testing and control processes give us enormous confidence in the safety profile of our dispersions,” says Susan Hipsky, Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager at Cabot, who has been with the company since the inkjet division’s inception.

Clean Lines and Cleaner Consciences

Beyond the technical elegance, there are practical advantages too. One of Cabot’s key differentiators is the high redispersibility and low viscosity of its dispersions. In simple terms, this means the inks flow smoothly, resist clogging, and are less prone to drying out and damaging print heads. In fast-paced packaging environments—especially single-pass, industrial-scale inkjet systems—this feature is not merely a convenience, it’s an operational imperative.

“If a print head clogs and can't be recovered, that’s not just downtime—that's thousands in replacement costs and lost production,” says Petton. “Our dispersions are designed to minimise that risk.”

Sustainability, meanwhile, is more than a corporate afterthought. Cabot has tripled the size of its sustainability team in recent years and is embedding product transparency into its inkjet business. “It’s not enough to be compliant,” says Hipsky. “Customers expect transparency—particularly when food contact is involved—and we work under NDA where needed to share what’s necessary.”

This commitment extends to helping clients navigate the tangled web of global food-contact regulations. With requirements varying from the US FDA and EU EFSA to the Swiss Ordinance and Nestlé’s own standards, the regulatory maze is daunting. Cabot’s regulatory and technical teams assist with compliance, including when requested detailed substance identification and migration testing. “In one case, we even brought in external consultants to do risk assessments on specific dispersions for a client’s application,” says Hipsky. “That’s the level of commitment we’re talking about.”

A Collaborative Ethos

Inkjet is inherently collaborative. Success depends not only on pigment dispersions but on print heads, substrates, engineering design, and software. Cabot understands this well, positioning itself not merely as a supplier but as a development partner.

“We bring colloidal and particle science to the table, but we work closely with system builders and converters,” says Petton. “We have to. There’s no value in having the best dispersion if it doesn’t match the print head or adhere to the right substrate.”

Indeed, the complexity of packaging—its varying surface chemistries, mechanical demands, and colour requirements—means there is still much to learn. “Every project teaches us something new,” Peton admits. “And that’s what keeps it interesting.”

Future-Proofing Packaging Print

Looking ahead, the opportunity for digital print in packaging remains vast. The majority of packaging remains analogue, with digital occupying only a small, though growing, niche. But as shorter runs, personalisation, and sustainability take centre stage, digital’s appeal is rising fast.

Cabot intends to remain ahead of the curve, closely tracking emerging regulatory trends. Of particular concern are so-called "forever chemicals" like PFAS, microplastics, and recycling compatibility—areas where pigment chemistry will play an increasingly prominent role. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, particularly in the United States, are also shifting brand-owner expectations.

Yet Cabot is well positioned. Its global footprint, involvement in multiple end markets, and role in leading trade associations ensure it is not only reactive but anticipatory. “We’re connected, we’re present, and we listen,” says Hipsky.

Their ongoing engagement with FuturePrint, participation in industry events, and regular publication of thought leadership underscores this collaborative ethos. “You can’t innovate in isolation,” Petton concludes. “And in inkjet, partnership isn’t optional—it’s essential.”