Avient ColorForward Experts Predict Pandemic Likely to Influence Color Preferences, Even in 2022

MILAN – December 10, 2020 – Avient Corporation, a premier provider of specialized and
sustainable material solutions and services, today announced that Avient ColorWorks has
launched ColorForward  2022. This 16 th edition of the annual color forecasting guide for the
plastics industry marks its debut within Avient, which was formed this year from legacy
businesses PolyOne and Clariant Masterbatch.

As in years past, ColorForward 2022 presents stories associated with four societal trends that
are expected to influence consumers consciously or unconsciously over the next few years.
Each trend theme also includes a palette of five associated colors that are predicted to elicit a
response from consumers. Developed by a global team, many of whom work in the four Avient
ColorWorks design and technology centers around the world, this unique tool has become
invaluable to plastic product designers and marketing professionals seeking help in making
more informed color choices for new products and packaging.
This year, ColorForward 2022 trend watchers expect the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to
linger for some time, even if vaccines and treatments allow the world to return to some
semblance of ‘normal.’ Naturally, they contend this will drive societal trends and consumer
response to color in the near- and mid-term future.
Looking ahead to 2022, the ColorForward team sees a silver lining around the pandemic
cloud. They predict most of us will emerge from this period of lockdowns and isolation stronger
and more mature, potentially having discovered talents and interests we didn’t know we had
before. They also see a growing movement toward national self-sufficiency and self-interest,
as the coronavirus has exposed the fragility of relying solely on a global supply chain. New,
remote approaches to working will continue even after the pandemic is under control,
according to the expert team, making it increasingly difficult to find a reasonable work/life
balance. Yet, this trend will also provide new levels of flexibility and freedom. Finally, the team
notes how the current crisis has highlighted weaknesses in the existing healthcare system.
They foresee accelerated acceptance of tele-medicine and other new approaches to patient
care as a result.

“For 2022, the overall color palette is dominated by shades of yellow,” explains Judith van
Vliet, ColorWorks Senior Designer and leader of the ColorForward team,“ and many of the
other colors are joined to the yellow family. For instance, many of the greens, reds, oranges
and some of the blues, have a high yellow influence, creating a sense of the warmth of human
connections that are interrupted by the social isolation the pandemic forces on us. In addition,
the yellowish greens are indicative of our need to reconnect with nature and avoid the
synthetic, including all of the screens and digital connections we must now use excessively.”
Avient ColorWorks also offers seminars at its four design and technology centers around the
world, as well as at selected conferences and customer sites. These can be conducted
virtually and/or in-person when appropriate. To learn more about collaborating with
ColorWorks, please click here.
NOTE: On July 1, 2020, PolyOne and Clariant Masterbatches joined together as Avient, a new
kind of materials company focused on conquering customer challenges and unlocking the
potential for innovation and sustainability around the globe.
About Avient Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), with projected 2020 pro forma revenues of approximately
$3.7 billion, provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer
challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples
include:
 Barrier technologies that preserve the shelf-life and quality of food, beverages, medicine
and other perishable goods through high-performance materials that require less plastic
 Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and
wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation
 Breakthrough technologies that minimize wastewater and improve the recyclability of
materials and packaging across a spectrum of end uses
Avient employs approximately 9,100 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care and a
founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

For more information, visit
www.avient.com.