More efforts are necessary to save our environment - our future. I ask for more cooperations - not only between universities or institutions and industry, but much more between the industrial companies. I claim for much more networking to gain more sustainable alternatives. Without losing know-how, but gaining cost saving, avoiding drawbacks and efficient realization of new developments. Here are my arguments - what do you think?
Posted at: 21 September 2011 21:38:00 | Posted by: Miriam von Bardeleben, Vincentz Network Virtual coatings
There are many areas where virtual alternatives have substituted the originals. We write e-mails instead of letters and photos are mostly processed digitally rather than being printed. Generally that is a good trend, as everyone is aware of the fact that the global raw material reserves are shrinking while piles of rubbish are almost transforming into skyscrapers. Currently, the consumption per head amounts to...
Everybody has his own opinion about environmental issues. Thinking about the different possibilities to collect and recycle waste or to stop nuclear power shows that we are all very involved in green topics. Discussions on TV as well as in newspapers around the globe search for reasons pro and con of new green ways. I have the feeling that it is a must to be green, especially in the coatings industry. It is a duty to act environmentally friendly. I am happy that we are all looking for it, but the marketing of new development has become so extremely environmentally friendly now, that it seems to be a "Green-technology Show”. I even think that technical advantages of some products are forced into the background just for presenting the green idea. There is a big danger that this buzz word starts to get annoying, instead of being positively seized.
The coatings industry is gearing up to face the issues of sustainability, how is your company acting positively to meet the challenge? Any company that is forward thinking should be able to see the commercial value in applying the basic principles of sustainability. If we become submerged in the detail we lose sight of where we are going. Are we about to become submerged in legislation and measurement for measurements sake, to be sacrificed on the altar of a politician’s definition of sustainability?
Sustainable material and product concepts are fundamental for maintaining a livable environment. Global balances serving as a basis of comparison for new materials and processes have been state of the art for many years. The carbon dioxide discussion has recently put also the so-called carbon footprint – in principle an energy equivalent – into the focus of coatings materials.
During the last two decades low-emission coatings systems have showed strong growth rates due to legislative requirements and the need to reduce costs. UV-systems and powder coatings could gain further market shares. Additionally waterbased coatings have immensely contributed to reduce solvent emissions.
