All International Articles

The World Coatings Council provides a forum for information exchange and cooperation on the major issues and priorities facing the paint and coatings industries worldwide. The council acts as a focal point for monitoring and communicating specified international issues; develops recommendations and analyses on selected issues of common interest to the participating organizations and attempts to derive a common position (in conjunction with the governing bodies of the respective participants); coordinates industry positions and communicates with other international organizations; and serves as a forum for open dialogue and exchange between the participating organizations on issues of common interest.

The RMI (Responsible Mica Initiative) is an industry-run NGO that addresses child labor in mica production, a raw material used in manufacture of effects pigments and dyes, utilized across several industry sectors. The World Coatings Council has represented the global paint industry in this initiative since 2017. As of April 2024, RMI is expanding its programs into Madagascar and promoting supply chain tracing and disclosure requirements for RMI members.

A European policy document Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-Free Environment, published to elaborate goals in the European Green Deal, would further extend a hazard-based approach to removing chemicals from the European marketplace. The policy will be implemented in Europe over the next 2-5 years. It is expected to remove certain products from the market, initially focusing on endocrine disruptors and PFAS. Companies will also see increased barriers to market entry with changes to both the CLP and REACH regulations. Europe will engage with countries and international institutions to encourage global proliferation of its hazard-based approach to managing chemical products. As of April 2024, the EU finalized changes to its CLP Regulation requiring updates to product labels. The changes are a first step towards restricting chemicals based on hazard classification and include new classification and hazard communication requirements. The commission will further develop changes to restriction procedures during 2024 by developing amendments to REACH.

In March 2022, at the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a resolution was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The resolution (5/14) requested the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop “the instrument,” which is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal.

In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to a two-stage approach to address the environmental risks associated with the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers. This effort stems from recent maritime incidents involving the release of plastic pellets into coastal waters, including serious accidents in Sri Lanka, Spain, and the Netherlands. In March 2024, the IMO completed the first stage of its approach by finalizing a circular (non-mandatory guidance) that contains voluntary recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers. The IMO will now shift its focus to the second stage, which involves the consideration of amendments to mandatory instruments to ensure the safe maritime transport of plastic pellets.