Sustainability Drives Innovation

The concept of “Sustainability” has been around for some time now. Once merely considered the latest buzzword, the concept of sustainability is now driving all aspects of business. All major paint and coatings companies have adopted sustainability reports outlining their goals for carbon and waste reduction.

Last month at the European Coatings Conference, Wijnand Bruinsma, AkzoNobel’s director of sustainability, gave the keynote presentation on the role of paint and coatings in a sustainable future.

Speaking of AkzoNobel’s sustainability goals, he said, “the paints and coatings industry makes a significant impact on carbon emissions and we can play a role in helping to reduce the carbon footprint. Our approach to a sustainable business is focused on three key areas: climate change, circularity and health and well-being.

“Our key sustainability ambitions for 2030 are 50 percent carbon reduction; 100 percent circular use of materials in our operations driven by reduce, reuse, recycle; more than 50 percent of revenue from sustainable solutions; and to empower more than 100,000 members of local communities with new skills.”

This month’s issue has two articles related to sustainability. In an effort to combat severe air pollution in the Philippines, Pacific Paint (Boysen) has developed KNOxOUT, the world‘s first air-cleaning paint with CristalACTiV photocatalytic technology. The paint breaks down air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and converts them into harmless substances through a process called photocatalysis, a natural reaction occurring in the presence of light, water and oxygen.

PPG’s article, “Building a Better Future: The Crucial Role of Paints and Coatings to Sustainability,” outlines a number of new products the company has developed to support its sustainability goals.

PPG is helping to create a more circular business model for safe and durable packaging while helping companies achieve sustainable commitments through products such as PPG INNOVEL PRO interior beverage can coating. The technology uses no bisphenol and non-bisphenol starting substances, provides better product protection, and enables aluminum cans to reach their full circularity potential. It also offers consumer brands a viable solution to meet sustainable packaging commitments.

“PPG’s Innovel PRO interior can lining has coated more than 220 billion cans and has earned a Cradle to Cradle Certified Material Health Certificate at the Platinum level,” said Jennifer Dodson, PPG director, customer sustainability.