Want to know the plastics industry 2014 color(s) of choice?

Anaheim - Last year, those in the fashion industry were either appalled or thrilled by the announcement that the 2014 Pantone Color of the Year was Radiant Orchid. For more than a decade, Pantone's Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.

And while we all know that plastics can come in all types of colors, as far as I know, I don't believe I've seen much packaging yet adopt the Radiant Orchid. But maybe the inaugural color report from Plastics Color Corp. (PCC) will have more luck. At the recently concluded MD&M West exhibition, PCC, a supplier of color concentrates and additive masterbatches for the plastics industry, has issued the annual color report to give customers a competitive edge in identifying current color trends and ultimately facilitate the product development cycle.

Oceanana (indigo like) and Copperico (copper like) have emerged as the leading color choices for the design of plastic products for the consumer and industrial market.

"Our goal with the color report is to help designers in the initial concept stage so they can develop the right product in the right color and get it to the shelf faster," said Tim Workman, PCC VP of business development. "This is a value-driven effort that helps our customers shorten the product development process."

Color selection is an important and often times lengthy process for manufacturers and PCC believes its report will simplify the process and arm customers with the most up-to-date market information.

Colors were chosen from market research and data presented at PCC's Color Marketing Group Summit in 2013. The market research data includes trending analysis, company sales information, and industry data from a broad range of markets in which PCC serves. The ongoing color evaluation - now formalized in an annual report - identified a palette of 12 colors that was pared down to two.

Oceanana can be found from the deepest of oceans to the dark blue skies at dusk and dawn and its deep color is both calming and grounding, according to the report. It is plant-derived and offers a connection with the natural world.  "Oceanana (indigo like) is making a resurgence in housewares, clothing, and textiles - becoming not only a bold neutral color but also a focus color," according to Sara Martin, PCC's strategic sales representative.

Meanwhile, Copperico stands for the old and the new and the two worlds that connect together, says the report. It offers a sense of home with its warm color and use in many everyday items. "Copperico (copper like) is surpassing the popularity of the grays of silver and the yellows of gold; the warm tones of this precious metal are slowly penetrating our daily lives," Martin said.