EC Conference Biocides and Alternatives 2024

In-can preservation provides antimicrobial protection to products and goods during production, transport and storage. Effective preservation prevents microbial spoilage, increases durability and extends the shelf-life. Water-based paints and varnishes require effective preservation as well as their raw materials and intermediates.

Whilst the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability challenges the use of substances with particular hazard profiles, such substances may indeed have a significant socio-economic role to play. In-can preservation makes an important contribution to achieving the primary goals of the European Green Deal. Without effective preservation, very large quantities of products would spoil more quickly, increasing resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

Innovation is key towards a better, more sustainable future in paints and coatings. Arxada is a technology leader for sustainable preservation with a successful track record of converting market challenges and opportunities into differentiated solution offerings. This is… Better science to solve the world’s toughest preservation challenges!

The presentation will outline the pivotal role of biocides in the paint industry, emphasizing that a durable and sustainable paint product is unattainable without these essential components. It describes LANXESS’s commitment to sustainability, particularly in climate action and product development, while acknowledging the challenges posed by increasing regulatory restrictions on biocides. The central message is clear: the longevity and sustainability of paint rely heavily on the incorporation of biocides, as for example in water-based coatings and recycled paints. The product carbon footprint as a measure for the overall sustainability of a biocide plays only a minor role. While the benefits of biocides to prolong the lifespan of a paint product are undoubted, other elements of the LCA such as for example aquatic and terrestrial toxicity might be more relevant and will be the main focus for future work.