Tony Johnson, Marketing Manager, North America Powder Coatings, Sherwin-Williams General Industrial04.04.24
The worldwide demand for environmental responsibility has steadily increased for years. It’s not new, especially to the paint and coatings industry. Companies across industries have spent decades implementing and advancing sustainable practices, working to find innovative ways to reuse materials and minimize waste. What started as an effort to meet regulatory requirements has now expanded to become much more, creating opportunity for all of us within the coatings industry.
It will take organizations from all aspects of supply and value chains to accelerate meaningful change – and companies will play a significant role.
According to the Harvard Business Review, we’re quickly approaching a tipping point where sustainability will shift from a “nice to have” to a baseline for purchasing decisions.
The environment is only one area of interest. There’s also the human element. Consumers want to have confidence that the businesses they interact with and buy from are working to move society in a positive direction.
In fact, a survey by ad agency Havas Group found that 65% of consumers believe that brands are just as responsible for driving positive social change as governmental institutions.
The same survey found that nearly two-thirds of consumers (64%) prefer to buy from companies with a reputation for purpose as well as profit, and one-off claims aren’t enough anymore.
Consumers have little faith that companies will fulfill their promises, making gaining trust an essential part of long-term brand building.
This shift to environmental and social responsibility opens opportunities in the coatings industry. From how and where raw materials are sourced to where products are used and reused, advancements towards sustainability can be found in many aspects of operations.
Embracing sustainable manufacturing processes contributes to bottom line profitability. By increasing resource efficiency, companies are reducing material and energy usage, ultimately lowering operating expenses and improving profit margins.
A study by McKinsey found that reducing resource costs by increasing efficiency can improve operating profits by up to 60%. At Sherwin-Williams, we employ the Sustainability by Design program, which is our signature effort to intentionally consider sustainability attributes and life cycle thinking in our product innovation and development processes.
Investing in sustainable practices also provides a better business return. Businesses that continue to rely on products made with less-sustainable raw materials or energy-hungry processes will face challenges in the coming years.
To prepare for long-term growth, sustainably advantaged processes, products and raw materials must be key areas for innovation teams.
Prioritizing sustainability greatly enhances brand reputation. Advancing sustainability now goes hand-in-hand with leading your industry.
A survey of leadership at FORTUNE Magazine’s 100 Most Admired Companies, for example, found that 35% of the companies included saw a dramatic increase in the long-term value of their organization due to the prioritization of sustainability.
Some large companies are making their efforts known by promoting supply chain sustainability. Adopting a life cycle approach to product development is one leading strategy, while setting sustainability standards for suppliers and collaborating to identify areas for improvement are becoming more common practices.
These upstream emissions indirectly contribute to a company’s overall impact but are the byproduct of activities outside of the company and their control, making them difficult to address. They include the sourcing of raw materials, energy use, waste, transportation, distribution and more. As companies work to reduce their overall impact, they’re looking to the manufacturers and suppliers that are working to do the same.
At Sherwin-Williams General Industrial, we’ve seen firsthand how rewarding innovations in sustainability can be. Our newest line of powder coatings, Powdura® ECO, incorporates up to 25% post-consumer recycled plastic in its formula, offering a simple solution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining uncompromised performance. A life cycle analysis of Powdura ECO showed an estimated 16-20% reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent when compared to traditional polyester formulas.
While maintaining the performance, appearance, and quality requirements that our customers expect, we’ve proven that R&D in sustainable alternatives can lead to remarkable innovations.
Recently, Powdura ECO was honored with multiple supplier awards from our customers, one for innovation and one for helping advance sustainability in a customer’s supply chain. In addition, another customer communicated its use of the product via marketing materials and nearly doubled their amount of business, making it a win for all within our value chain.
For decades, industrial coatings have been pivotal in bolstering sustainability by significantly extending the lifespan of coated products. By developing ways to do this in a more circular, sustainable way, we can continue to drive responsible growth for our industry and help advance environmental stewardship for companies worldwide.
BioBlackTM is perfect for Packaging and Label Inks, including Flexographic and Gravure.
Nature Coatings’ BioBlack pigments and water-borne dispersions are 100% bio-based, non-toxic and carbon negative alternatives to petroleum-derived carbon black pigments and dispersions. Our products are crafted with our proprietary black pigment sourced from fully traceable FSC-certified and recycled wood waste.
• 100% BIO-BASED / USDA BIOPREFERRED CERTIFIED
• NEGATIVE CARBON FOOTPRINT / LCAS AVAILABLE
• NON-DETECTED PAHS & UV RESISTANT
• <0.1 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS)
• COST COMPETITIVE & MADE IN THE USA
Visit us at the American Coatings Show Booth #211
www.naturecoatingsinc.com
It will take organizations from all aspects of supply and value chains to accelerate meaningful change – and companies will play a significant role.
The Shift in Sustainable Thinking
People are increasingly attuned to the impact their actions have on the environment and, more than ever, they’re paying attention to the role of brands and manufacturers.According to the Harvard Business Review, we’re quickly approaching a tipping point where sustainability will shift from a “nice to have” to a baseline for purchasing decisions.
The environment is only one area of interest. There’s also the human element. Consumers want to have confidence that the businesses they interact with and buy from are working to move society in a positive direction.
In fact, a survey by ad agency Havas Group found that 65% of consumers believe that brands are just as responsible for driving positive social change as governmental institutions.
The same survey found that nearly two-thirds of consumers (64%) prefer to buy from companies with a reputation for purpose as well as profit, and one-off claims aren’t enough anymore.
Consumers have little faith that companies will fulfill their promises, making gaining trust an essential part of long-term brand building.
This shift to environmental and social responsibility opens opportunities in the coatings industry. From how and where raw materials are sourced to where products are used and reused, advancements towards sustainability can be found in many aspects of operations.
The Business Case for Sustainable Practices
There is a variety of research showing that consumers seek out sustainable products and are willing to pay more for them. Consumer-focused companies understand this and are actively seeking suppliers who can improve their reputation by supporting sustainability goals and reducing the environmental impact of their supply chain. So, even though you may not be marketing and selling directly to consumers, aligning your business with their values is critical to long-term business success.Embracing sustainable manufacturing processes contributes to bottom line profitability. By increasing resource efficiency, companies are reducing material and energy usage, ultimately lowering operating expenses and improving profit margins.
A study by McKinsey found that reducing resource costs by increasing efficiency can improve operating profits by up to 60%. At Sherwin-Williams, we employ the Sustainability by Design program, which is our signature effort to intentionally consider sustainability attributes and life cycle thinking in our product innovation and development processes.
Investing in sustainable practices also provides a better business return. Businesses that continue to rely on products made with less-sustainable raw materials or energy-hungry processes will face challenges in the coming years.
To prepare for long-term growth, sustainably advantaged processes, products and raw materials must be key areas for innovation teams.
Prioritizing sustainability greatly enhances brand reputation. Advancing sustainability now goes hand-in-hand with leading your industry.
A survey of leadership at FORTUNE Magazine’s 100 Most Admired Companies, for example, found that 35% of the companies included saw a dramatic increase in the long-term value of their organization due to the prioritization of sustainability.
Some large companies are making their efforts known by promoting supply chain sustainability. Adopting a life cycle approach to product development is one leading strategy, while setting sustainability standards for suppliers and collaborating to identify areas for improvement are becoming more common practices.
Sustainability in the Supply Chain
Many companies are working to reduce the environmental impact of their in-house operations. Now, they’re looking to their supply and value chains to support their efforts. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, upstream greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions average 11.4 times higher than operational emissions, which equals around 92% of a company’s total emissions.These upstream emissions indirectly contribute to a company’s overall impact but are the byproduct of activities outside of the company and their control, making them difficult to address. They include the sourcing of raw materials, energy use, waste, transportation, distribution and more. As companies work to reduce their overall impact, they’re looking to the manufacturers and suppliers that are working to do the same.
At Sherwin-Williams General Industrial, we’ve seen firsthand how rewarding innovations in sustainability can be. Our newest line of powder coatings, Powdura® ECO, incorporates up to 25% post-consumer recycled plastic in its formula, offering a simple solution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining uncompromised performance. A life cycle analysis of Powdura ECO showed an estimated 16-20% reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent when compared to traditional polyester formulas.
While maintaining the performance, appearance, and quality requirements that our customers expect, we’ve proven that R&D in sustainable alternatives can lead to remarkable innovations.
Recently, Powdura ECO was honored with multiple supplier awards from our customers, one for innovation and one for helping advance sustainability in a customer’s supply chain. In addition, another customer communicated its use of the product via marketing materials and nearly doubled their amount of business, making it a win for all within our value chain.
Conclusion
To remain relevant in today’s environmentally conscious world, manufacturers are finding innovative ways to lower energy and resource consumption, reduce waste, and minimize emissions. The most successful companies are taking it one step further by formalizing these initiatives into programs that raise awareness and encourage innovation throughout the supply chain, allowing them to constantly iterate and improve sustainable practices throughout operations.For decades, industrial coatings have been pivotal in bolstering sustainability by significantly extending the lifespan of coated products. By developing ways to do this in a more circular, sustainable way, we can continue to drive responsible growth for our industry and help advance environmental stewardship for companies worldwide.
Nature Coatings
We Transform Wood Waste into High-Performing Black Pigments.BioBlackTM is perfect for Packaging and Label Inks, including Flexographic and Gravure.
Nature Coatings’ BioBlack pigments and water-borne dispersions are 100% bio-based, non-toxic and carbon negative alternatives to petroleum-derived carbon black pigments and dispersions. Our products are crafted with our proprietary black pigment sourced from fully traceable FSC-certified and recycled wood waste.
• 100% BIO-BASED / USDA BIOPREFERRED CERTIFIED
• NEGATIVE CARBON FOOTPRINT / LCAS AVAILABLE
• NON-DETECTED PAHS & UV RESISTANT
• <0.1 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS)
• COST COMPETITIVE & MADE IN THE USA
Visit us at the American Coatings Show Booth #211
www.naturecoatingsinc.com
