ACA Technology Roadmap #1 – Sustained use of Critical Materials

The American Coatings Association (ACA), through its Science and Technology (S&T) Committee, is developing a series of Technology Roadmaps that aim to establish broad technical consensus on actionable research that is organized according to themes. Through an open, collaborative, and consensus- based process, ACA staff and industry leaders seek to identify research needs that have the potential to advance industry sustainability and growth by informing manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, academic institutions, government research laboratories and other research organizations. The first of these themes looks at the industry’s challenges in sustained use of critical materials for formulating both existing and emerging products. The rigorous, multi-step analysis undertaken for this Technology Roadmap collected consensus-based input from a diverse set of industry experts using anonymous initial surveys followed by personal interviews to explore identified concepts for consideration. The resultant synthesis of potential consensus points was further refined by broader industry peer review. Key considerations included exploring the relevance and value of materials for coatings, the definition and communication of “safety,” the challenges of formulation and application, the importance of customer relationships, and the overall industry posture on emerging public policy with respect to product stewardship.