An eco-strategy for development of more sustainable coatings

Addressing the significant challenges stemming from human activity on the environment requires active participation from all sectors, including the coatings industry. While there has been considerable effort to encourage individual involvement and responsibility, there lacks an overarching eco-strategy for the industry as a whole. This work proposes a guideline to prioritize efforts for maximum positive environmental impact, focusing specifically on the direct product-related impacts of the coatings industry (Scope 3).

The eco-strategy is founded on two main components: a “red list” outlining hazardous ingredients to be avoided to comply with legislation and a Life Cycle assessment of all raw materials used in the coatings industry in a year.

It concludes that a “red list” will be different when the coatings are for industrial use under controlled conditions or if the coatings are for consumer use. Hazardous ingredients may be required to enable production of durable coatings to be used in industry, while the same hazardous substances are recommended to be reduced or even phased out in consumer products.

The findings from the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on the industry's use of raw materials reveals that epoxy resins, titanium dioxide, acrylic resins, and metallic zinc dust collectively account for over 50 % of environmental impacts across all assessed categories due to their high usage volumes combined with their impact potential. As such, substitution or further development of these raw material groups should be prioritized for future research and development in academic and within the industry.

Moreover, the eco-strategy underscores the importance of durability in achieving environmental sustainability. Any substitution of raw materials must ensure comparable or even improved durability of the coatings to maintain environmental benefits.