There is increasing interest and demand for improving the sustainability of the coatings industry. This comes from consumers, applicators, producers, and suppliers, yet sustainability is a complex subject with many possible approaches available. Companies will need to partner together to increase the availability of green energy and transform existing production while working to future-proof the products and solutions offered.

Additives are usually only a small part of a coating formulation but can still play a role in improving sustainability. A holistic approach, based on two pillars, can be used. The first pillar focuses on minimizing the carbon footprint of the production process by using resources more efficiently and reducing emissions. The second pillar targets improving the performance (handprint) by developing new products and technologies to help formulators reduce their environmental impact and maximize coating durability and longevity.