EU accelerates the establishment of circular economy plan The paint industry will undergo fundamental changes

the EU is now accelerating its plan to build a circular economy to tackle climate change and stop the consumption of key raw materialsthe introduction ofcircular economy will change a large part of European industry, not only in the 27 member states of the European Union, but also in neighbouring countries over the next 20-30 yearsIt could also lead to fundamental changes in the European coatings industrycircular economy places manufacturing in a closed-loop system so that once products and materials are produced and used, they are recycled as secondary materials or productsIn some cases, they revert to the original chemical during the second life cycleRecycling energy through incineration is seen as the ultimate choice, not landfilldesign-centric approach will gradually replace existing linear systemsAs a result, many products will start production once their coating formulations have been determinedBrussels-based European Commission adopted an action plan of 54 initiatives in March 2018, three years after launching the Circular Economy Action Plannow, the European Green Agreement, drafted by the new commission to take over in December 2019, puts the shift to the economic cycle firstthe last European Commission's circular plan could even be adjusted to match the EU's industrial strategy, which was adopted in March 2020"s new Circular Economy Action Plan will work with industrial strategies to help the EU modernize its economy and benefit from opportunities in the domestic and global circular economyThe new EU commission said in a letter on the green dealfor the European coatings industry, the shift to the economic cycle means long-term changes in the needs of coatings and other customerspaint buyers will focus on how coatings and other suppliers can help them protect substrates such as metals and wood for the second life cycle, help them reduce their carbon footprint through projects such as biomaterials, and make their products last longer with safer and cleaner chemicals"the next few years will be very busy for our association to address many of the challenges associated with the circular economy," explains Janice Robinson, Director of Product Regulation at the European Coatings, Ink Pigmentindustry Commission (CEPE) added: "The European Green Agreement has an impact on the timetable for the circular economy In this regard, many plans and work must be carried out in conjunction with national associations "
For the European coatings industry, the implementation of the cycle plan (although drafted at the EU level and to be implemented by member states) will bring a new priority to customers." paint buyers will look at how their manufacturers can help them achieve the goals behind the circular economy As a result, they may give more control to the coating content some of the coatings industries in Europe already have experience in handling supply chain specifications, including key components in end-user formulations, particularly brand owners and operators in industries such as electronics and aviation in addition coating customers have taken the recycling process into account when formulating some of the larger producers of coatings and raw materials are well positioned to take advantage of the transition from much of Europe to a circular economy They are developing their own circular incentive sustainability goals DSM Coatings Resins announced last year that it was accelerating the phase-out of all "high-profile" chemicals from finished products so that it would not sell any products containing these potentially unsafe chemicals by 2025 in addition, dSM will reduce its carbon footprint and its customers' carbon footprint by reducing indirect value chain emissions by 28 per cent per ton of product smaller than raw material supply by 2030 in addition, by the end of 2030, 30% of the raw materials procured by DSM Resin and Functional Materials will be bio-based and/or recycled materials Helen Mets, President of the DSM Resin and Functional Materials Division, said the business's goal is "to make our customers 'leaders in sustainable green solutions' by using safer, more low-carbon and renewable solutions in our portfolio." "
AkzoNobel is following a similar strategy, focusing on reducing carbon emissions through renewable feedstocks But it is also looking for innovation through the cycle AkzoNobel is working with large suppliers and universities to develop high-quality coatings with a recyclable 25% content, to extract pigments from carbon black from used tires, and to develop bio-based resins from crustaceans and wood In the emerging circular economy, a major problem that may cause friction between paint suppliers and buyers is the safety or hazard level of certain chemicals The more concerns you have about the extent of the harm to a particular substance, the less buyers want them to be used in recycled or reused products "Once there is doubt about the safety or hazard of a chemical or a mixture of chemicals in a product, there will inevitably be a dispute between suppliers and customers," said a coatings marketing manager "
there should be no disagreement about substances classified by ECHA as high-profile substances (SVHCs) because they are highly dangerous and theae has listed them as EU-mandated candidates." The aim is to eventually phase them out of the European market However, there are concerns about the lack of transparency even in products containing the most dangerous substances The ECHA must create a database that will be operational next year and contain items or manufactured products including SVHCs, including their coating ECHA is currently evaluating substances to determine whether they should be classified as concerned about potential hazards, although below SVHC levels Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the UK Coatings Federation, said: "One of the risks of the circular economy is that paint buyers are too cautious about the risks of potentially dangerous chemicals He expects the UK government to remain committed to introducing a circular economy after Brexit With the introduction of the circular economy, the big debate between suppliers and buyers of coatings and many other products (many of which are classified as mixtures of substances like coatings) will be what kind of chemicals are good for recycling and what chemicals are bad for recycling many disputes can last a long time