Formulators can have an enormous impact on the profitability and growth of their respective companies by using sustainable materials in their paint formulations when a choice is available. A new report from UL Environment, “The Sustainable Edge™,” shows that companies pursuing a sustainability strategy experience lower costs, increased innovation, improved brand loyalty, increased growth and lower risk.
Nearly 90% of purchasing entities consider a company’s social and environmental commitment and track record before making a purchasing decision. This trend to develop and manufacture sustainable products will continue to gain momentum, as it impacts our lives in innumerable ways.
For coatings formulators, a sustainability strategy incorporates a dedication to develop and produce environmentally responsible products from a health, environmental and safety standpoint. This approach encompasses the selection of acceptable materials when and where they are available, to develop and produce coatings that meet performance goals.
Acceptable materials for coatings formulations might include bio-based materials and materials that produce little or no VOCs (EU), are RoHS compliant, are free of formaldehyde (EU), phthalates (EU) and bisphenol A (EU), and are recyclable. Formulators may also pursue the use of recycled raw materials where possible. A few of the many initiatives which drive the market to formulate and produce sustainable products include Green Building, LEED, Green Star and Green Construction Code.
UL Environment, a division of Underwriters Laboratories (UL), has taken a proactive approach to identify, test and certify materials that meet a variety of sustainability criteria . UL Environment offers a number of certification, validation and testing services, including ECOLOGO to certify products for a range of environmental attributes, and GREENGUARD, to certify products for low chemical emissions, as well as services to validate Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and a range of product claims. A keyword search in the Prospector search engine will indicate materials that are sustainable (EU), bio-based (EU), formaldehyde free (EU), phthalate free (EU) (plasticizer) and bisphenol A free (EU).
Download “The Sustainable Edge™” for more statistics and strategies.
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