Rising demand for water-borne coatings – How the industry adapts

Which markets are mostly water-borne (besides architectural), and which ones will shift further towards water-borne coatings?

Marcel Meeuwisse: Water-borne coatings have gained significant traction in several markets due to their low VOCs, reduced environmental impact and generally safer profile. They have a dominant position in interior and exterior architectural coatings for both residential and commercial buildings. Technological developments and regulatory pressures have also led to a shift towards water-borne coatings in automotive refinish and industrial wood coatings. In the protective coatings market, they are increasingly being used for corrosion protection in infrastructure, although solvent-borne systems still hold a large share. While their growth is often associated with sustainability, certain performance attributes such as blocking resistance, natural aesthetics and low viscosity have driven their historical adoption in markets such as woodworking, kitchenware, furniture, general industrial coatings and small packaging.
Markets expected to see strong growth in water-borne coatings include automotive OEM applications, where car makers are increasingly specifying water-borne systems to meet sustainability and performance targets.

Will there be problems or opportunities as a result of the stricter biocide regulations?

Meeuwisse: The evolving and stricter biocide regulations could have an impact on the further growth and adoption of water-borne coating systems. Biocides in water-borne coatings are essential to prevent microbial contamination and extend shelf life. Stricter regulations in the EU and North America – such as REACH and BPR – limit the types and concentrations of biocides that can be used. This increases formulation complexity and could lead to higher production/raw material costs or shorter shelf life if safer alternatives aren’t developed.

As a result, innovation will be key to the continued expansion of water-borne coatings. Today, manufacturers are working on low-biocidal or biocide-free preservation systems, but are reaching technological barriers. The impact of these regulations may slow market growth in the short term, but should ultimately lead to more sustainable and safer water-borne coatings in the future. An ideal aim is to protect the coatings while meeting human/plant hygiene and use guidelines set out by the hygiene and chemical industry. Other technologies that are less susceptible to microbial contamination and have a lower environmental impact could see their share of the market expanding for further growth. The growing spectrum of water-based coatings with no or low biocides for applications in kitchen cabinets and flooring is one example.

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