CPMA Holds Spring Meeting at 2023 Eastern Coatings Show

The Color Pigments Manufacturers Association (CPMA) had an expansive and productive presence at the 2023 Eastern Coatings Show (ECS), the largest regional coatings show in the United States, May 18-19, in Atlantic City, NJ.

In conjunction with the event, the association held its Spring Meeting on Thursday, May 18, and was a sponsor of the ECS panel, “Where Do We Go From Here? The Future of the Coatings Industry.”

The May 18 Spring Meeting brought together CPMA Board, members and industry stakeholders for a networking breakfast and presentations by thought leaders from across the global value chain, covering key issues impacting the color pigments sector. Industry participants included color pigments manufacturers, processors, and distributors.

EU Regulations and Global Industry Trends

CPMA meeting attendees heard from keynote speaker Dr. Heike Liewald, managing director of Eurocolour, a CPMA partner association, on EU chemicals regulations impacting the color pigments value chain. Liewald shared insights on EU activities including REACH implementation, legislative review of nanomaterials definitions in consumer products, recent PFAS restriction proposal, and more.

She also discussed the EU Green Deal Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and its potential impacts on industry. Published in October 2020, the Chemicals Strategy consists of more than 50 proposed actions to be implemented by 2024.

Trade media expert Dale Pritchett, group publisher, Rodman Media, also shared insights on current global coatings trends and other recent headlines impacting the sector. Topics discussed included industry growth, ongoing mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies, and the comeback of trade shows and industry events in the post-COVID landscape.

CPMA Sustainability Initiative

CPMA Executive Director David Wawer provided an overview of the association’s recently launched Sustainability Initiative, which aims to develop and promote a sustainability framework and deliver relevant resources for companies throughout the North American color pigments value chain.

As part of the initiative, CPMA is keeping members informed about regulatory activities related to emerging legislation around plastics recycling and producer responsibility in the U.S and Canada. Additionally, CPMA is working with industry value chain partners and downstream customers to provide information about customer trends and challenges surrounding sustainability.

Ongoing Advocacy Efforts and Recent Legislative Win

Wawer also discussed recent CPMA advocacy efforts related to a 2023 Washington State bill, which would have eliminated the manufacture, sale, and distribution of paints and inks that contain chlorine-based pigments. CPMA facilitated a coalition of downstream customer industry associations to communicate the adverse economic impacts the proposed legislation would have on companies in the state of Washington. The amended bill which ultimately did pass omitted this potential hit to Washington businesses.

The final legislation directs the Washington Department of Ecology to petition EPA by Jan. 1, 2025, to reassess current regulations governing PCBs as inadvertent byproducts. CPMA will continue monitoring activities related to the petition requirement in the bill.

For more information about CPMA programs, its membership network and ongoing advocacy efforts for the North American value chain, contact executive director David Wawer at davidwawer@cpma.com.