“Green” and “Sustainability” are two words widely used across many industries today. And no surprise – these terms are becoming common place in Coatings. Here we’ll discuss how the coating industry is responding to these trends.

Formulating for Low VOC
Low VOC formulating has been mandated by regulations for over a decade. Today, we see many flat paints at less than 100 g/liter of VOC. When you consider the performance expectation of flat paints, along with the relative amounts of binder and pigment in a flat formulation, it is easy to imagine that the VOC targets for flat paints can be met.

But even the more demanding non-flat formulations are routinely offered at less than 100 g/liter of VOCís. Achieving excellent performance at low VOC is primarily the result of improvements in binder design and innovations in additive package.

For quick review on these enabling binder and additive technologies we suggest you review the following links:
       http://www.paintquality.com/contractor/newsletters/contNL0508.html
       http://www.paintquality.com/contractor/newsletters/contNL0307.html

Estimator Tools – Minimize Waste
Reducing VOCís will impact the air quality, however, other steps should be taken to reduce the impact of paints on the environment. Three simple steps go a long way to minimizing the environmental footprint:
       • Plan the Job
       • Buy the Right Level of Paint
       • Use best method to Dispose of extra paint
          and paint waste

In the first case, consideration must be given to the type and condition of the substrate being painted. For simple guidelines to ensure a quality finish, visit our planning site at:
        http://www.paintquality.com/contractor/ppp/index.html

Second, measure the area to be painted and use the manufacturersí recommended spread rate to estimate the amount of paint to complete the job. We offer a basic tool to help with this:
         http://www.paintquality.com/ehs/avoid_waste.html

Remember that the quantity of paint needed will change depending on the roughness and porosity of the surface, along with the number of coats needed to provide adequate coverage.

Third, note that each municipality has different recommendations for handling paint waste. For starters, avoid washing paint down the drain. See our prudent guide at:
        http://www.paintquality.com/ehs/disposal.html

Although it may be somewhat invisible to you, it costs municipalities real dollars to dispose of waste paint. So be wise – Use it Up; Dry it Up; or Pass it On!

Choose a Durable Product Optimized for the Right Substrate
and the Right Environment
What is a reasonable expectation for how long a paint job should last?  Whether you are painting for aesthetic reasons or for protection, our studies have shown, that over time, the higher quality and more durable products require less maintenance thereby delivering  much better value.  This value proposition holds even as more environmentally friendly paints are introduced.  A safe bet is to use High Quality 100% Acrylic Paints.

Demand for green buildings is growing and so too is the number of contractors preparing for green marketing.  

Ask yourself these questions before starting a project:

• Are you using quality products that have maximum durability?
• Are you offering to collect any extra paint at job sites?  
• Are you using best practices to dispose of waste paint and paint materials?

*PVC = Pigment Volume Concentration.
  % PVC =                  Volume of Pigments               x 100
                 Volume of Pigments + Volume of Binder