BRITISH COATINGS FEDERATION
UK coatings industry commits to Net Zero by 2050 and 75 % recycling target by 2030 for household leftover paint
British Coatings Federation ( BCF ) members have joined other sectors in pledging to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 . The commitment was made at the recent BCF Board of Directors meeting in Manchester and will be backed up by more detailed Net Zero Roadmaps for each BCF sector .
The industry has also committed to a highly ambitious target for its paint recycling scheme , PaintCare . This scheme , which aims to create a circular economy for leftover decorative paint in the UK will aim to increase the percentage leftover paint re-used , recycled , or re-manufactured from 2 % today to 75 % by 2030 .
“ With the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference ( or COP26 for short ) fast approaching , there has rightly been an increased focus on sustainable action , but our sector has been continuously working on improving key sustainability metrics for over 25 years ” said Tom Bowtell , CEO at the British Coatings Federation . “ I ’ m delighted the BCF Board has set ambitious targets for both Net Zero and leftover paint recycling , and we will be working hard with our members in the next 12 months to ensure a clear roadmap to achieve both objectives is in place ”.
Sustainable production and recycling have been a key focus for the coatings industry in the UK since 1996 and are the basis for some of the 45 health , safety and environment key performance indicators monitored through the BCF ’ s Coatings Care programme . Latest Coatings Care figures showed record low levels of energy used in production as well as a significant decrease in production waste . 71 % of production waste is now recycled , compared with just 17 % in 1996 . Accident rates are also at a record low and well below the latest UK Labour Force survey , with zero RIDDOR reported dangerous occurrences or fires at BCF member sites in 2020 .
“ Alongside COP26 , we want to highlight and celebrate the work our members are doing to create a more sustainable industry . We have launched our # SustainableCoatings and # SustainableInks campaign , which will share case studies from our members showcasing what they have already done and what new initiatives they will be taking in future to increase sustainability . These will be shared on social media using the # SustainableCoatings and # SustainableInks hashtags on any related social media posts ” concluded Bowtell .
TO VISIT THE CAMPAIGN PLEASE FOLLOW : https :// www . coatings . org . uk / sustainablecoatings-sustainable-inks . aspx
8 NOVEMBER 2021 read online : www . surfaceworld . com