EC Editors' Blog - Sustainabilty

Is environmental profiling of coatings necessary at all?

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:07:00+0200

In the never-ending discussion on the sustainability of paints and coatings and on the different ways of measuring it, have you ever found yourself wondering, if environmental profiling of our products is necessary at all? [More]

Nature again: shark skin for airplanes

Fri, 21 May 2010 11:20:00+0200

Researchers from the Fraunhofer institutes have always been inventive when it comes to new material developments. Now members of the Fraunhofer IFAM have been honoured for yet another brilliant idea: in order to lower the fuel consumption of airplanes they made use of a model from nature - the shark skin. [More]

The "Salvinia effect" - learning from nature

Fri, 07 May 2010 11:34:00+0200

In their search for new super hydrophobic surfaces following nature's example, scientists have discovered just another fascinating mechanism: the surface hairs of the floating fern may be used to help lower the fuel consumption of ships significantly. [More]

Wanted: a common understanding of sustainability

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:24:00+0200

Sustainability and furniture coatings - what does the future hold in store? I think that's a good question, since currently the furniture coatings market is still dominated by solventborne systems. On the other hand there are certain factors driving the industry to switch to waterborne solutions. [More]

Sustainability is all around

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:10:00+0200

Recently, Luis Fernandez, Vice President Dow Coating Materials statet in an interview in FARBE UND LACK , that the improvement of sustainable products is an important R&D activity at Dow, because consumer are asking for such products. This is a quite important point. However, I am wondering how this can be achieved. [More]

Product Carbon footprint (PCF)

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:18:00+0200

Nowadays the terms sustainability, green and CO2 footprint are on everybody’s lips. Especially a product carbon footprint (PCF) is a very appealing concept. However, up to now, no globally harmonised standard method is available. A pilot study gives interesting insights into the complexity of PCFs. [More]

Carbon footprint: the industry’s new benchmark?

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:21:00+0200

The buzzwords of your industry ‘sustainability’ and ‘green’ are omnipresent and shape the future of the business inevitably. A green future for the coatings sector is not only limited to offering paints or coatings with low or no VOC. Nowadays, the carbon footprint is becoming more and more important, as it considers all aspects of the environmental impact of coatings. The life-cycle analysis - from the selection of raw materials to the management of the waste after use - is the focus. Taking the environment into account makes the process more complex and difficult, but it can result in lower manufacturing and supply chain costs as typically less energy is used. The growing green consciousness of both legislation and consumers is increasing for the more eco-friendly product. Do you think the carbon footprint of a product will soon become the new benchmark for the coatings industry? Share your thoughts with your peers.

Definition urgently needed for terms like biobased and sustainable coatings

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:32:00+0200

Recently, I attended the ECC on „Biobased Coatings“, which was quite interesting in terms of the usability of renewable recourses in coating systems. Another very attention-grabbing thing popping up during the conference was the desire of the industry to have a guideline or definition for terms like biobased and sustainable.

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Discussion topics on biobased coatings

Mon, 25 May 2009 13:54:00+0200

Just a few days to go until the conference „Biobased Coatings“ kicks off in Berlin. High time to think about topics for the focus workshops planed. Green Additives will be an issue for sure. Also VOC-compliant biobased coatings will be an interesting topic. What else?

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Life Cycle Assessment

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:23:00+0200

In times of sustainability, green chemistry, environmental friendliness etc I come across more and more often with life cycle assessment and “cradle to grave” management of products. In this respect bio-based products are also on the lips of many people. [More]

Biobased products

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:08:00+0200

According to a study of the California Biomass Collaborative the increase of biobased market sales for biobased or greener industrial products increased from 5% (in 1996) to 25% (in 2006), coatings included. There are more and more products available. Will they become accepted at the market? [More]

Polyurethanes: What is "green"?

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:02:35+0200

Editing polyurethanes related articles for our magazine the other day, I came across the environmental issue over and over again. [More]

Sustainability and the industry

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:54:00+0200

Sustainability - a much used and misused term often heard within the industry. It seems everybody nowadays wants to emphasize their efforts towards a clean environment, renewable resources, ecologically compatible materials.

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Sustainability - a new buzzword to deal with?

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:33:00+0200

Today, terms like sustainable development, green chemistry, and renewable resources etcetera are seen and heard everywhere. But is it only a buzzword? I don’t think so. Sustainability - in its widest sense, is the great challenge facing the paint industry.

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Bio-based raw materials possibly environmentally worse than petroleum-based

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:59:00+0200

Green raw materials used in coatings industry are assumed to help to improve our environment. More and more coatings manufacturers provide products based on sustainable green raw materials. However, possibly these materials are environmentally worse than petroleum based once. Indication comes from a recent study on biofuels.

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