Leaders in the Field
We are well ahead of our schedule in achieving targets for reducing waste and emissions to air and water. Many of our sites around the world also operate systems certified to international environmental management standards.
In the coatings industry, an increasing number of products with a much lower impact on the environment are being brought to the market. This has been a result of research carried out in the UK.
We have used our substantial research and development expertise to make our water-based products perform with the highest technical excellence. We continue to deliver superior products whilst leading the major swing towards low or non-solvent products, and so supporting the worldwide drive to reduce emissions of VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds).
In light of this, a European Directive is due to come into effect to enforce the reduction of VOC’s throughout the European Community. This will happen in two phases: Phase One on 1st January 2007 and Phase Two on 1st January 2010.
Pro-active Emissions Reductions
Well in advance of the strict requirements of the directive Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings Ltd decided to be proactive and meet the CEPE guidelines for VOC emissions prior to the introduction of any legislation.
As a result we are in an excellent position to meet the maximum VOC content levels for Phase One implementation on January 1st 2007. In fact, all our main line products have complied with this legislation since 2000.
Once the VOC limit values for 2007 and 2010 were finalised we carried out further reformulation work to ensure that all of our products met the 2007 maximum VOC limits. It is a testament to our commitment to a sound environmental policy that many of our products already meet the Phase Two VOC requirements well in advance of the 2010 deadline.
Continued Excellence
Our expertise in the field of research and development has ensured that this commitment to the environment hasn’t had any detrimental effect to our products’ well-deserved reputation.
We’ve had major products in the market, which comply with the 2007 legislation, since at least 2000. The fact that we’ve achieved this without any adverse reaction suggests that there has not been a significant negative effect on application or performance of our products due to VOC reduction.
This is not surprising as the changes required to ensure that products were in line with VOC legislation, were relatively minor in most cases.
The Future
Looking forward to 2010 more radical reformulation and new technology will be required for certain product classes. An important category is the interior/exterior trim and cladding paints for wood and metal.
Reformulation of the solvent based products in this class to meet the 2010 regulations, may well result in improvements in film build and for gloss finishes the depth and clarity of gloss, depending of course on the technology we use.
