Sustainability Drives Innovation

Sustainability is one of the most discussed issues in the paint and coatings industry. In the past paint and coatings manufacturers focused research and development efforts to develop low- and zero- VOC technology for paints, stains, caulks and sealants. But simply meeting environmental regulations is no longer the goal. Paint and coatings companies are looking at green coatings and sustainability from a holistic standpoint. Developing greener coatings is certainly important, but now companies are also concerned with the bigger picture such as reducing waste and shrinking their carbon footprint.

The Green Building Movement, driven by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), is gaining momentum. The GreenBuild International Expo and Conference, which was recently held in Los Angeles, is now the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Started in 2002, this annual event brings together the green building community to share ideas and innovations.

The event features manufacturers of building materials and insulation, as well as coatings and adhesives.

Valspar has dedicated considerable resources to providing the green building community with sustainable solutions. “Coating The Way To Sustainable Solutions” (p. 36) features insight on the role of sustainabilty in the coatings industry from Jeff Alexander, vice president of sales, coil and extrusion division for Valspar Corp. Alexander said it is important that coating manufacturers set an example and continue to produce more sustainable products and technologies. His article takes a look at a few different sectors within the industry to see how each is utilizing sustainable materials and what it can mean for architectural development as a whole.
According to Alexander, North America leads the world in the demand for green building materials – accounting for 40 percent of the total market share  – and that demand is reflected throughout the coating industry as well.

“Innovations continue to move sustainable coatings from passive to active performance and from minimizing damage to repairing and restoring resources,” Alexander said. “These advances will only continue to improve as coating manufacturers take sustainability goals to heart, making enhancements that will deliver products that not only meet these stringent environmental demands, but also exceed them.”