BIOGRUND and Seprify have introduced a plant-based tablet coating system designed to replace titanium dioxide in nutraceutical manufacturing amid rising clean-label demand.

The companies have developed ready-made coating systems incorporating Seprify’s cellulose-based ingredient SilvaAlba™, which is positioned as a mineral-free alternative to commonly used whitening agents such as titanium dioxide (E171) and calcium carbonate (E170).

The launch comes as manufacturers continue to seek replacements for titanium dioxide following the European Union’s 2022 ban on the additive in food applications, alongside broader pressure to simplify ingredient lists in nutraceutical products.

Seprify, a Swiss developer of cellulose-based materials, said SilvaAlba™ is derived from renewable cellulose and designed to deliver high light-scattering performance for tablet whitening, while maintaining stability across typical formulation conditions.

Lukas Schertel, chief executive and co-founder of Seprify, said: “Developing a credible alternative to titanium dioxide requires more than replacing a pigment. The material must integrate into real manufacturing systems while maintaining optical performance and regulatory clarity. With SilvaAlba™, we engineered a cellulose structure that provides efficient light scattering from a renewable feedstock. Working with BIOGRUND allows this material innovation to be translated into ready-to-use coating systems that nutraceutical manufacturers can test and deploy today.”

BIOGRUND, which supplies ready-made coating systems widely used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturing, has integrated SilvaAlba™ into its premixed formulations to simplify adoption for manufacturers. The company said the system is designed to support industrial-scale coating processes while maintaining consistent tablet appearance and processing efficiency.

Mahmud Yunis, technical director at BIOGRUND, said: “Our customers are increasingly seeking coating systems that align with clean-label expectations while remaining robust in industrial manufacturing processes. Integrating SilvaAlba™ into our ready-made coating formulations allows us to provide a plant-based whitening solution that combines optical performance with formulation simplicity. This helps nutraceutical manufacturers move toward mineral-free products with confidence.”

Seprify said SilvaAlba™ is based on microcrystalline cellulose, a material already widely used in pharmaceutical applications, which may support regulatory familiarity for formulators. The company also highlighted scalable production capacity as demand for titanium dioxide alternatives grows across food and nutraceutical sectors.

The mineral-free coating system is now available for customer evaluation and formulation trials, with BIOGRUND offering tailored coating solutions for specific tablet applications. The companies will showcase the technology at upcoming industry events, including Making Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals and Vitafoods Europe.

The collaboration reflects broader industry movement toward plant-based excipients and alternative coating technologies as manufacturers adapt to regulatory change and consumer demand for simplified formulations.