Sustainability: A formula for Success in the Paint and Coatings Industry

By Cynthia Challener

Sustainable Development {SD),°’ “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland, 1987), not only benefits the environment, but lso can have positive influences on the community and most often results in improved financial performance. Raw material suppliers, paint manufac­turers, and end users, through process improvements or new product/tech­nology developments, are demonstrating the economic effectiveness of SD.

Presented in this article are a few selected examples that highlight some potential areas in the paint and coatings industry for implementing sustain­able development initiatives and the results that can be achieved.Suppliers have taken various approaches to improving the sustainability of the paint and coatings industry. Some have developed new additive for­mulations or technologies that help minimize the environmental impact of final paint formulations.

Others are developing resin systems with unique properties, and many are also improving the efficiencies of their own opera­tions while reducing waste production and energy consumption. Biocides are critical components of paint and coatings formulations. Some protect the paint from attack by microbes before it is ever applied to a surface, while others help preserve the paint film once it has been estab­lished.

International Specialty Products now offers a line of water-based, zero-, and nearly zero-VOC biocides including 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcar­bamate (IPBC) and 1,2-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT) as well as water­based multi-active blends and has improved the processes used to manufac­ture them.