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Protecting the World and Making it More Sustainable: The Coatings Industry is Ready to Start Again with New Drivers Monica Fumagalli ipcm®
T
he interviews in this column, which has
although with very different needs and targets.
In fact, three themes recur in almost all of
been published in the first few pages
Secondly, from the United States to South
our interviews: sustainability, relationships
of our magazine for two years now,
Africa, from Mexico to Italy, there is a clear
with regulatory bodies, and digitalisation. For
have been aimed at offering to our readers
awareness of the importance of our sector
these associations, listening to their members
an authoritative insight into the international
within the production chain. Victor Leal, the
and the sectors they represent means acting
markets at the turn of the century and after
president of the Mexican Paint and Printing
as spokespersons for their needs in these
the pandemic crisis, in order to understand
Ink Manufacturers Association (ANAFAPYT),
three areas. Above all, sustainability is an
how companies in the sector and their
states: “Virtually every man-made product
issue that has come up frequently in recent
representatives, such as associations and
has a coating that not only allows it to retain
years and has been receiving increased
institutions, are reacting. This time, we want to
its value, but also gives it colour, protection,
attention on the occasion of events such
draw some conclusions from our investigation
and durability.” André Vieira de Castro, former
as the recent COP26. Raising awareness
activity. First of all, while the pandemic is
Chairman of the Board of CEPE, the European
and guiding companies towards reducing
still unfortunately having a major impact on
Council of the Paint, Printing Ink, and Artists’
emissions, of which our sector is among the
the industry and the manufacturing sector,
Colours Industry, who ended his mandate in
most responsible, seem to have become
a consistently positive approach has always
October this year, confirms that “paints are
priorities for all the organisations interviewed.
emerged from the answers to our questions.
inherently environmentally friendly products.
The Green Deal, the set of initiatives promoted
This includes the voices of a market, that of
In addition to their aesthetic appeal, they act
by the European Commission to achieve
wall painting, which we do not usually cover in
as a protective barrier against weathering
climate neutrality by 2050, has become a
our articles specialising in industrial coatings,
and microbiological degradation of all types
major focus for the European ones. On the
but which has actually played an important
of substrates, thus increasing the service life
other hand, relationships with the institutions
role in dragging the coating market out of the
length, safety, and performance of products
that establish the dangers and, therefore,
doldrums it had found itself in. Most of the
and structures. Therefore, paints contribute to
the legal limits of the substances used in the
associations we contacted have in fact two
the overall objective of greater sustainability,
formulation of paints represent one of the
cores, managing relationships with members
thanks to the longer service life they
most complex tasks for the associations to
from both the wall and industrial fields,
guarantee.”
manage. In many cases, this is made more
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N. 72 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
