In February 2020, the European Commission published a regulation that states all producers of white paints containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) must provide a warning label on their products, effective October 1, 2021. Exposure during the production and application of products containing TiO2 can be harmful, and therefore these products must be labeled as “may cause cancer.” Titanium dioxide is the white pigment component in paint and ensures good coverage, amongst other features. The annual trade in titanium dioxide amounts to approximately EUR 11.3 billion, of which EUR 6.5 billion is in coatings.1 Currently there is no alternative to titanium dioxide in white paints, and the industry has unsuccessfully opposed (in several letters addressed to the European Commission) the process of this regulation over the past three years.
RAW Paints has developed a patented white pigment formula to replace TiO2 in white paints for use on interior and exterior surfaces, in one formula. Additionally, the company has also applied for a patent for a new solution for painting on surfaces with a moisture percentage of up to 10%, where the current standard is a maximum of 4%.