Kerry Pianoforte, Editor03.31.17
According to Grand View Research’s report “Bio-based and Low VOC Paints Market Analysis, Market Size, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies, and Forecasts, 2015 To 2022,” the global bio-based and low VOC paint market is expected to witness brisk growth owing to rising environmental concerns over the forecast period. Customer preferences have shifted towards products with low volatile organic compound (VOC) content due to several reasons such as low toxicity, low environmental impact and easy maintenance.
Government initiatives as well as regulations set up by environmental agencies are cited as the impetus to fuel growth of this global market. These regulations mandate companies to produce low toxic products that contain low VOCs from natural sources.
According to the report, these bio-based and low VOC products have several benefits over the conventional substitutes. These advantages include reduced toxicity, low groundwater and ozone depletion contaminants, easier maintenance, low odor and simplified cleanup/disposal. Such favorable advantages coupled with low environmental impact have resulted in shifting customer preferences towards these types of low VOC paints.
These types of coatings are used in both interior and exterior environments. Interior applications account for a higher share in the global market and include indoor painting applications for houses and residences. Exterior applications include protective coatings for buildings. Growing urbanization and increasing standards of living, coupled with rising disposable income, particularly in the emerging regions is driving growth in this industry. Regions such as Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa are projected by Grand View Research to be high growth markets for this product.
However, higher production cost is anticipated to negatively impact the market over the forecast period. Price sensitive regions such as Asia Pacific are expected to experience the highest impact of such high production costs. Raw material availability also plays an important role in shaping the industry. Raw material demand-supply imbalance is presumed to be a critical factor and is expected to hinder global market over the forecast period.
According to the report, R&D investments to develop superior quality product with lower production costs promise ample opportunities for market participants. Initiatives to penetrate the market and gain market share offer ample scope for bio-based paint manufacturers.
These products have several types with different VOC levels. Zero VOC, low VOC, VOC absorbing, and natural paints are a few major product types. Paints containing VOCs with less than 5 gm per liter are considered Zero VOC. VOC absorbing paints contain active ingredients that trap VOCs in the paints indefinitely. Natural paints are manufactured from raw natural products such as plant oils and yes, natural minerals, water and essential oils.
Regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa are projected to witness brisk growth over the forecast period. Growing population and increasing disposable income have resulted in rapid urbanization in the developing regions. Such a shift in trend is expected to complement the regional market over the forecast period. Countries such as China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are projected to lead their respective regional markets over the next seven years.
Developed regions are characterized by stringent regulations and standards governing internal as well as external applications. Internal applications are exposed to a larger set of regulations that are aimed at safeguarding the public interests. Such regulatory framework is expected to shift demand from the conventional products to these low VOC containing paints.
Grand View Research noted that Industry participants are taking strong measures to enhance their product portfolio and increase production capacity with an aim to cater to the growing global demand. These companies are also investing heavily in R&D initiatives to develop superior products at lower production costs. Regulations mandating manufacturers to produce non-toxic products that comply with the international standards are presumed to go a long way in shaping the industry.
Latest Offerings
There is a large variety of low and zero VOC product offerings.
Benjamin Moore offers Aura, EcoSpec, Natura and BEN low to zero VOC interior and exterior paints. They are available in a wide variety of colors and finishes. Benjamin Moore’s interior paint Natura, has been Certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
The PPG PAINTS brand recently introduced the next generation of the <50 grams per liter volatile organic compound (VOC) version of BREAK-THROUGH! interior and exterior waterborne acrylic paint. One of the PPG Paints brand’s most popular products, Break-Through! paint offers a unique and versatile technology that provides excellent adhesion, hardness and block resistance to a variety of residential and commercial surfaces such as floors, trim, cabinets, railings, shelving and equipment, as well as metal, wood, concrete, fiber glass, laminate and many plastics. In addition, the product provides a flexible and smooth, virtually brush-free finish that withstands cracking and peeling.
“The Break-Through! product is a unique coating, and we’re excited to provide professional specifiers, managers and applicators with this industry-leading low-VOC product technology that offers a solution to various project-, facilities-, time- and substrate-related challenges,” said John Salvadore, senior marketing manager, PPG Paints brand.
The application improvements for the <50 grams per liter VOC Break-Through! formula include:
Slightly higher viscosity for easier handling;
Improved sag resistance, resulting in a more even finish;
Improved flow and leveling, providing an enamel-smooth finish with fewer brush marks;
Quick drying time of 17 to 20 minutes to touch, two hours for recoat, resulting in less downtime and quicker job completion; and
Slightly more “open time,” or time that paint is wet enough for a brush to move through it, giving pros a longer time frame to fix brush marks or drips.
Complete with a new label, the updated <50 grams per liter VOC product is available in both satin and gloss sheens at PPG Paints stores and select independent dealer locations in the United States.
The PPG commercial coatings group has added F4921WH–2.1 White Epoxy Primer and F4921BK–2.1 Black Epoxy Primer to the popular DELFLEET Evolution premium commercial paint system.
Similar to the F4921 Gray Epoxy Primer PPG introduced in June 2015, F4921WH and F4921BK are compatible with Delfleet Evolution basecoats and single-stage topcoats. The new primers are exceptionally versatile and can be matched with an array of substrates including aluminum, cold rolled steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, galvaneal, fiber glass and cured surfaces.
F4921WH and F4921BK offer numerous practical qualities that make them a smart choice for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as repair shops. The new primers offer superior adhesion and corrosion resistance and can be applied over bare metal as a protective layer or as a sealer over existing finishes. They are also fast-drying and can be topcoated as primer sealers in as little as 30 minutes, making them well suited for value-conscious collision centers. The primer is applied in a 3-to-1-to-1 mix ratio and lays down smoothly because of its thin film quality.
“Adding these two primers to the Delfleet Evolution brand makes our product lineup even more flexible,” said J.J. Wirth, PPG brand manager, fleet segments. “These are multipurpose high-quality primers with fast-drying characteristics that will help speed cycle times and productivity in shops of all sizes. Our original F4921 gray has proven itself quite well; by expanding our selections with these low-VOC primers in black and white, we’re giving PPG customers more choices to address their requirements.”
As low-VOC epoxy primers, F4921WH and F4921BK are compliant for all parts of the U.S. and Canada.
Dunn-Edwards offers two zero-VOC interior paint lines, Everest and Spartazero. Both include a flat finish and several sheen levels in enamel. The company also has a variety of zero-VOC primers, including Ultra-Grip Select Multi-Purpose Primer, Vinylastic Select Interior Wall Sealer, and Interkote Premium Interior Undercoater Dunn-Edwards also has a large selection of Ultra-Low VOC paints (with VOC contents less than 50 g/L) and dince 2012, all of the company’s colorants are zero-VOC.
Government initiatives as well as regulations set up by environmental agencies are cited as the impetus to fuel growth of this global market. These regulations mandate companies to produce low toxic products that contain low VOCs from natural sources.
According to the report, these bio-based and low VOC products have several benefits over the conventional substitutes. These advantages include reduced toxicity, low groundwater and ozone depletion contaminants, easier maintenance, low odor and simplified cleanup/disposal. Such favorable advantages coupled with low environmental impact have resulted in shifting customer preferences towards these types of low VOC paints.
These types of coatings are used in both interior and exterior environments. Interior applications account for a higher share in the global market and include indoor painting applications for houses and residences. Exterior applications include protective coatings for buildings. Growing urbanization and increasing standards of living, coupled with rising disposable income, particularly in the emerging regions is driving growth in this industry. Regions such as Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa are projected by Grand View Research to be high growth markets for this product.
However, higher production cost is anticipated to negatively impact the market over the forecast period. Price sensitive regions such as Asia Pacific are expected to experience the highest impact of such high production costs. Raw material availability also plays an important role in shaping the industry. Raw material demand-supply imbalance is presumed to be a critical factor and is expected to hinder global market over the forecast period.
According to the report, R&D investments to develop superior quality product with lower production costs promise ample opportunities for market participants. Initiatives to penetrate the market and gain market share offer ample scope for bio-based paint manufacturers.
These products have several types with different VOC levels. Zero VOC, low VOC, VOC absorbing, and natural paints are a few major product types. Paints containing VOCs with less than 5 gm per liter are considered Zero VOC. VOC absorbing paints contain active ingredients that trap VOCs in the paints indefinitely. Natural paints are manufactured from raw natural products such as plant oils and yes, natural minerals, water and essential oils.
Regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa are projected to witness brisk growth over the forecast period. Growing population and increasing disposable income have resulted in rapid urbanization in the developing regions. Such a shift in trend is expected to complement the regional market over the forecast period. Countries such as China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are projected to lead their respective regional markets over the next seven years.
Developed regions are characterized by stringent regulations and standards governing internal as well as external applications. Internal applications are exposed to a larger set of regulations that are aimed at safeguarding the public interests. Such regulatory framework is expected to shift demand from the conventional products to these low VOC containing paints.
Grand View Research noted that Industry participants are taking strong measures to enhance their product portfolio and increase production capacity with an aim to cater to the growing global demand. These companies are also investing heavily in R&D initiatives to develop superior products at lower production costs. Regulations mandating manufacturers to produce non-toxic products that comply with the international standards are presumed to go a long way in shaping the industry.
Latest Offerings
There is a large variety of low and zero VOC product offerings.
Benjamin Moore offers Aura, EcoSpec, Natura and BEN low to zero VOC interior and exterior paints. They are available in a wide variety of colors and finishes. Benjamin Moore’s interior paint Natura, has been Certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
The PPG PAINTS brand recently introduced the next generation of the <50 grams per liter volatile organic compound (VOC) version of BREAK-THROUGH! interior and exterior waterborne acrylic paint. One of the PPG Paints brand’s most popular products, Break-Through! paint offers a unique and versatile technology that provides excellent adhesion, hardness and block resistance to a variety of residential and commercial surfaces such as floors, trim, cabinets, railings, shelving and equipment, as well as metal, wood, concrete, fiber glass, laminate and many plastics. In addition, the product provides a flexible and smooth, virtually brush-free finish that withstands cracking and peeling.
“The Break-Through! product is a unique coating, and we’re excited to provide professional specifiers, managers and applicators with this industry-leading low-VOC product technology that offers a solution to various project-, facilities-, time- and substrate-related challenges,” said John Salvadore, senior marketing manager, PPG Paints brand.
The application improvements for the <50 grams per liter VOC Break-Through! formula include:
Slightly higher viscosity for easier handling;
Improved sag resistance, resulting in a more even finish;
Improved flow and leveling, providing an enamel-smooth finish with fewer brush marks;
Quick drying time of 17 to 20 minutes to touch, two hours for recoat, resulting in less downtime and quicker job completion; and
Slightly more “open time,” or time that paint is wet enough for a brush to move through it, giving pros a longer time frame to fix brush marks or drips.
Complete with a new label, the updated <50 grams per liter VOC product is available in both satin and gloss sheens at PPG Paints stores and select independent dealer locations in the United States.
The PPG commercial coatings group has added F4921WH–2.1 White Epoxy Primer and F4921BK–2.1 Black Epoxy Primer to the popular DELFLEET Evolution premium commercial paint system.
Similar to the F4921 Gray Epoxy Primer PPG introduced in June 2015, F4921WH and F4921BK are compatible with Delfleet Evolution basecoats and single-stage topcoats. The new primers are exceptionally versatile and can be matched with an array of substrates including aluminum, cold rolled steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, galvaneal, fiber glass and cured surfaces.
F4921WH and F4921BK offer numerous practical qualities that make them a smart choice for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as repair shops. The new primers offer superior adhesion and corrosion resistance and can be applied over bare metal as a protective layer or as a sealer over existing finishes. They are also fast-drying and can be topcoated as primer sealers in as little as 30 minutes, making them well suited for value-conscious collision centers. The primer is applied in a 3-to-1-to-1 mix ratio and lays down smoothly because of its thin film quality.
“Adding these two primers to the Delfleet Evolution brand makes our product lineup even more flexible,” said J.J. Wirth, PPG brand manager, fleet segments. “These are multipurpose high-quality primers with fast-drying characteristics that will help speed cycle times and productivity in shops of all sizes. Our original F4921 gray has proven itself quite well; by expanding our selections with these low-VOC primers in black and white, we’re giving PPG customers more choices to address their requirements.”
As low-VOC epoxy primers, F4921WH and F4921BK are compliant for all parts of the U.S. and Canada.
Dunn-Edwards offers two zero-VOC interior paint lines, Everest and Spartazero. Both include a flat finish and several sheen levels in enamel. The company also has a variety of zero-VOC primers, including Ultra-Grip Select Multi-Purpose Primer, Vinylastic Select Interior Wall Sealer, and Interkote Premium Interior Undercoater Dunn-Edwards also has a large selection of Ultra-Low VOC paints (with VOC contents less than 50 g/L) and dince 2012, all of the company’s colorants are zero-VOC.
