World Coatings Council Update

Members of the council include the American Coatings Association (ACA), Australian Paint Manufacturers’ Federation (APMF), the Brazilian Paint Manufacturers Association (ABRAFATI), The British Coatings Federation (BCF), the Canadian Paint and Coatings Association (CPCA), the European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists‘ Colours Industry (CEPE), the China National Coatings Industry Association (CNCIA), the French Paints, Printing Inks, Artist Colours and Adhesives Association (FIPEC), the German Paint and Printing Ink Industry Association (VdL), the Japan Paint Manufacturers Association (JPMA), the Mexican Paint and Printing Ink Manufacturers’ Association (ANAFAPYT), the New Zealand Paint Manufacturers Association (NZPMA), the South African Paint Manufacturers Association (SAPMA), and the Association of the Paint Industry in Turkey (BOSAD), the Malaysian Paint Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and Spanish Association of Manufacturers of Paints and Printing (ASEFAPI).

World Coatings Council members meet in person on an annual basis and conduct monthly web conferences on a myriad of legislative, regulatory, and technical issues that impact the coatings industry.

The World Coatings Council holds official consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as well as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and UN Environment. As a result, World Coatings Council representatives serve on a variety of UN agency committees and working groups seeking to advance constructive global policies.

In March 2024, the Annual Meeting of the World Coatings Council was conducted in Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China. The agenda was packed with administrative and policy items and included presentations from several industry members of the Chinese industry association. Members of the World Coatings Council were hosted by the Chinese National Coatings Industry Association (CNCIA). At the Annual Meeting, a resolution recognizing Tom Bowtell of the British Coatings Federation as President of the WCC and Monica Alcala-Saavedra of ANAFAPYT as Vice President.

The agenda for the Annual Meeting included reports from around globe on sustainability issues, UN meetings for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling, and the International Maritime Organization. Specific issues addressed at the meeting include plastics and microplastics, the EU Green Deal, extended producer responsibility regimes for packaging and other products as well as PFAS and biocide restrictions. Monthly web-based meetings of the Council’s members continue these conversations.

At this meeting, WCC members voted to consider establishing a “Global Coatings Day” in order to highlight the essentiality of paints and coatings products as well as the industry. While a specific date was not chosen, it was agreed that all members would “nominate” a date for implementation in 2025. In addition, it was also agreed that the WCC would implement, on a pilot basis, an Advocacy Leaders Council which would assist the WCC in developing positions on key issues. The Advocacy Leaders Council will include global manufacturers in the coatings industry. The goal of the Advoacy Leaders Council is two-fold: to assist in the development of positions so that when issues arise in different parts of the world, these “positions” will operate to educate the relevant industry association on the history and current status of the issue. In addition, it will allow the WCC to extend its reach further, thereby having access to broader perspectives in the coatings industry.

Discussions also focused on the 2024 Coatings Summit, which is currently scheduled for Singapore. Additional discussion centered on the viability of holding the WCC Annual Meeting following the Coatings Summit. Scheduling for this meeting is still underway.

.