The Grass Really Can Be Greener

By Cynthia Challener

Although the paint and coatings industry often touts its extensive capabilities in producing a large palette of shades and hues, one color in particular stands out more than others these days-green. The predominance of this green, however, does not reflect shifts in consumer demand for products of this actual color.

Rather, the “green” in question refers to paints and coatings that are formulated to have minimal environmental impact throughout their full lifecycle. Raw materials suppliers and paint manufacturers alike have made the commitment to develop green products that exhibit equal or improved performance capabilities compared to traditional products.

The extent of industry interest in doing so was evident at the recent International Coatings Expo (ICE) event held in New Orleans in November of 2006. Responding to the “Green Chemistry-Global Ingenuity” theme of the event, many exhibitors showcased new products and technologies or highlighted existing materials specifically designed for use in greener paints and coatings.

The FutureCoat! Conference included four different sessions on green chemistry practices and technology, all of which were well attended.

“The high interest level at the ICE show confirms that increasing numbers of people in the industry are both aware of, and interested in, learning more about green chemistry principles and how to implement them,” states Jennifer Young, senior program manager with the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute (GCI).