Thanks to the likes of European standard EN 13300 the consumer can make direct, like-for-like comparisons on anything from coverage to cleanability and gloss. You can directly compare the big names with the local outfits - it creates a level playing field that you don’t see in many industries.
The standards will help you to determine how many coats you’ll need to get the finish you want, or how long your system will offer adequate protection for. So, you can make better informed decisions to reduce waste and limit solvent exposure.
We discuss the impact of standards in ‘2022 Global Outlook of Sustainable Packaging’ – access this here!
Is this because the industry is full of altruistic types? Quite possibly! But there’s also a necessity component to factor in: it’s not a sector known for moving at rapid speed - it can take 20 years to fine tune the recipe of a new coating system and test it properly. You could say that the industry moves more like an oil tanker than a speedboat! But while this may be true, it’s led to the need for a forward-thinking attitude for those working in the industry. There’s a need to ask questions like, ‘where do we want to be in the future? How clean will we want/need to be?' It’s this foresight that has enabled many companies to adapt to meet customer and regulatory demands ahead of time.
So, how can proper testing, selection, and application of the right inks and coatings reduce your environmental impact?