Sustainability is a hot topic in paints and coatings. Biobased products have moved from the niche to the mainstream over the past two decades, as the sector finds itself under increasing pressure to comply with ever more stringent environmental controls. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has established clear guidance relating to emissions that must be adhered to by manufacturers and their suppliers. Major industry players are also arriving at the realization that a reduced environmental footprint provides a competitive advantage in a saturated market.
It is not only in mature economies where demand for more sustainable coatings is on the rise due to more stringent legislation and sustainability targets. The paint industry in China continues to undergo rapid change and, as far back as 2011, the improved environmental performance of the coatings industry was identified as a goal in China’s 12th Five Year Plan. The real step change, however, came in early 2015. The new Environmental Protection Law was published in January and made law on February 1, as part of ongoing government efforts to improve air quality across China through the establishment of emissions standards. The legislation had a direct impact on the coatings industry and has set a precedent for other countries in less mature markets across Asia-Pacific and Latin America to follow. Biobased technologies are coming to the fore as a result, with new research highlighting the potential of lactide-modified alkyd resins in particular to formulate solvent-reduced coatings.