Though California may be at the vanguard of environment-focused legislation, it is reasonable to expect that other states
will eventually enact similar legislation. While the soundness of such legislation is a matter of debate, the outcome is not.1 For
coatings manufacturers, future success depends upon the availability of products that have low levels of VOCs (i.e., low enough
to comply with the laws where they are employed).
There is another even more important factor that motivates coatings manufacturers to offer products with low levels of
VOCs - safety. Replacement of VOCs with water, or low-hazard solvents, results in a safer workplace for applicators. Moreover,
the cost of managing VOCs is reduced.