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“True age of innovation is here”: current trends, regulatory hurdles and promising biocide alternatives
Regulatory hurdles, evolving demands for sustainable protection, and a wave of innovation – Rick Strittmatter, Chief Technology, Innovation and Sustainability Officer at Arxada, discusses the shifting biocide landscape, the industry’s response to tightening regulations, and why this is the beginning of a new scientific era for paints and coatings.
What are current trends in preservatives for paints and coatings?
Rick Strittmatter: While the need for effective microbial control is well established, the availability of familiar solutions is changing. This increases the risk of in-can spoilage, leading to added costs across the value chain due to rework, product recalls or waste. Long-term dry film protection is also under pressure.
As a result, many in the industry are reformulating to avoid financial loss, while implementing new tools to safeguard dry film performance – without resorting to inferior approaches or sacrificing product safety.
A key driver is regulatory pressure. The availability of globally approved biocides is decreasing, and tighter use limits demand new preservation strategies. But these challenges come at a time of exceptional scientific capability. Advances in biosciences, toxicology, environmental science and chemical carrier systems are enabling safer, more effective solutions.
In particular, the paints and coatings sector is on the verge of leveraging biologically based approaches for wet-state preservation. Today, advanced encapsulation technologies are already being used to reduce carbon footprint and optimise performance. One example is Polyphase 862CR, a time-controlled-release preservative based on IPBC and IPU. This technology offers enhanced formulation stability, broad-spectrum performance and regulatory compliance – an especially valuable combination as the number of allowed actives continues to shrink.
What are the biggest regulatory challenges you currently face – in general and in R&D?
Strittmatter: Key regulatory influences include the EU’s BPR, the US EPA and Canada’s PMRA. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to offer globally applicable products, as many active substances are being restricted or banned.
Three current issues are especially critical. First, new labelling requirements for BIT are driving customers to rapidly shift away from BIT-based wet-state preservatives. Second, the future of production hygiene is under pressure as DBNPA faces regulatory restrictions. Third, in outdoor applications, the demand for algicidal performance is rising – but after the classification of Diuron as CMR, only Terbutryn (TBT) and Isoproturon (IPU) remain. IPU offers a more favourable classification and therefore a longer regulatory outlook. At Arxada, we are strongly committed to maintaining IPU as a powerful broad-spectrum solution.
What are the most promising alternative preservation technologies?
Strittmatter: We are now seeing truly sustainable preservation systems entering the market – including non-biocidal ingredients that offer additional benefits through formulation synergies. These multifunctional additives have great potential, and their strategic use will shape the future of microbial control in coatings.
What will drive progress even further is collaboration – across disciplines and organisations. Open innovation, where manufacturers, suppliers, regulators and experts work together, accelerates solution development. We’re at the beginning of exciting progress, with lower dosages of actives and new materials delivering performance in unexpected ways. At Arxada, we call it Better Science for tough challenges. We believe a true age of innovation is here – and we’re proud to help lead it alongside our partners.
