Sparxell creates environmentally and socially friendly colorants for everything from cosmetics to packaging to food. They’re made from cellulose, so they’re biodegradable, and they use structural color, so they never fade. Starting with a solution of cellulose nanocrystals—which can be derived from wood pulp—a reflective, colored film forms as the liquid evaporates and the crystals arrange themselves into helix-type structures similar to those in the cell walls of the Pollia condensata berry. Using patented technology, Sparxell can tailor the color and shimmer of the film by controlling exactly how those crystals interact with each other. Ground into fine powders, the films can take the place of traditional metallic and pearlescent pigments. Cut or ground into bigger particles, they can fill the role of traditional glitter or sequins, or even film layers. Sparxell’s patented production process allows these colorants to be produced at a large scale, commercially viable level.