Urban legends are, well, false—but still fun, because there is always something believable about them. Is it true that you are never more than six feet away from a spider? Who really knows, and some might say who really cares? But let’s face it—don’t you find yourself wondering, “Hmmm, I wonder if it’s true, and should I be calling an exterminator?” Well, here’s something that is not a legend: You would be surprised to learn how many articles in your home, just feet away from you, are made from prepainted metal.
Sustainability, upcycling, downcycling, landfills … the list
goes on! What is one to think when every material is touted as sustainable?
Don’t believe me? Visit any material website; for example, cement/concrete,
vinyl plastic, wood building products. What is one to make of all these claims—are
they real? How does our industry fit in?
These days, it’s not uncommon to hear businesses from nearly every industry discuss “sustainability” or plans for a more sustainable future. As the term becomes more ubiquitous in today’s business planning, its definition can be somewhat vague. For our purposes, sustainability refers to a company’s efforts in reducing its environmental impact through the use of more environmentally-friendly building materials and less consumption of natural resources. While the coating industry works diligently in manufacturing products that adhere to high standards for sustainability, there are several ways to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious.
1. Reduce the use of volatile organic compounds.
For a long time, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, played a large role in the coating industry because they contain properties that assist in applying coatings to a surface. Continue reading →