YesColours' paint pouch packaging alone uses 16% less fossil fuel, generates 21% less greenhouse gas emissions and uses 26% less water throughout its production than traditional rigid packaging — giving consumers the opportunity to help the environment before they’ve even started painting. The packaging can be placed in local store or supermarket recycling points — far better than leaving cans to degrade over time. As U.K. collection services improve curbside recycling, customers will be able to recycle in their homes as well.

TONBRIDGE, England – PANTONE announced Very Peri as its chosen color of the year for 2022, giving YesColours a head start with its color combinations. YesColours, the designer paint brand that launched a fully recyclable packaging alternative that aims to cut consumer waste and stop tricky-to-recycle leftover paint tins going to landfill, has four purples and lilacs in its unique color palette, aligning with the upcoming trend for 2022. Lilac looks to be the color set to replace the dusty and muted tones of 2021, adding some much needed freshness and life to the interior decor market.

YesColours is introducing colors that are focused on customers’ wellbeing. The company has mindfully curated its color palette into collections that are purposefully simple, naming groups and colors based on the feelings they evoke. The YesColours palette consists of four rich, vibrant lilac hues: Passionate Lilac — a deep, intuitive color with red energy and cooling blue; Joyful Lilac — a magenta blue; Friendly Lilac — the sweet lavender parma-violet; and Fresh Lilac — suggesting the tranquility of amethyst stones and springtime hyacinths.

YesColours, founded by John Stubbs (NewTerritory, Mary Portas), and Creative Partner Emma Bestley (Moveovermagnolia, ClearChannel) in 2020, looks to tackle the U.K. waste paint issue head-on by introducing new packaging that aims to remove the traditional paint cans in favor of fully recyclable pouches, which are more commonly used for food and cosmetic products. According to the company, only one-third of household waste recycling centers (HWRCs) accept paint and cans for recycling, and only 2% of accepted paint waste gets recycled, with 98% going to landfill or incineration. In the U.K., the national average is 17 leftover paint cans per household. YesColours paints come in one-liter sizes, which help to avoid over-ordering at the point of purchase — one of the main reasons for the waste generated in the U.K.

Pantone Picks 2022 Color of the Year, U.K. Paint Manufacturer Responds

ACC Predicts Positive Outlook for American Chemistry After a Tough Year

WASHINGTON – Despite a challenging year, U.S. chemical production expanded in 2021 as the post-lockdown spending surge boosted demand for chemicals and other goods and materials, according to the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Year-End 2021 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook. The rebound in demand swept across many end-use markets for chemistry, driven by savings, stimulus and shifting demand patterns toward goods. Tangled supply chains and adverse weather events were downside factors.

“While risks for the global economy remain, the U.S. chemical industry is in a strong position going into 2022,” said Martha Moore, ACC Chief Economist and author of the Year-End 2021 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook. “Supply chain bottlenecks appear to be easing, and momentum is rising as manufacturing activity resumes and inventories are rebuilt. American chemistry is poised to accelerate as strong consumer demand and restocking drive growth.”

U.S. Chemistry Situation and Outlook

After two years of weakness linked to trade tensions and COVID-19, the U.S. chemical industry had been prepared for solid production gains in 2021. Yet in February, winter storm Uri brought freezing temperatures and power outages to the Gulf Coast, knocking out a wide swath of chemical and other industrial capacity. Some other facilities experienced shutdowns or reduced operations due to shortages of raw materials. In August, Hurricane Ida disrupted production of many basic chemicals for more than a month. Supply chain issues in key end-use markets also contributed to softer demand for some chemistries this year. ACC reports that going forward, the outlook is positive.

Global and U.S. Macroeconomic Situation and Outlook

Tempered by the continuing health crisis and supply chain disruptions, the global economy continues to recover and is expected to grow by 5.7% in 2021 and 4.4% in 2022. U.S. GDP grew by 5.6% during 2021, reversing a 3.4% decline in 2020. After a 7.2% contraction in 2020, U.S. industrial production rose 5.5% in 2021 and will grow by 4.0% in 2022, driven by a rebound in demand for goods.

End-Use Markets Situation and Outlook

Light vehicles are an important market for chemistry, with over $3,200 in chemistry per vehicle. Global vehicle production plummeted in 2020, with lockdowns resulting in order cancellations along the supply chain and, once production resumed, a slowdown in assemblies as semiconductor manufacturers were unable to meet demand. U.S. vehicle sales rose to 15.3 million in 2021, compared with 17.0 million in 2019 and 14.5 million in 2020, and are expected to be 16.0 million in 2022.

Housing is also a large consumer of chemistry. Housing starts rose during the pandemic as historically low mortgage rates and remote work and learning led to a geographic dispersion of households. Housing starts grew to 1.58 million in 2021 — the highest since 2006, though constraints on building materials, land use and labor, in addition to affordability challenges, will curb growth in the short term. Housing starts are set to ease to 1.56 million in both 2022 and 2023.

Trade Situation and Outlook

U.S. chemical imports and exports have rebounded strongly in 2021, though the pace of improvement has slowed in the second half due to port delays and other disruptions to logistics. Exports have also been hampered by weather-related production outages along the Gulf Coast. Exports rose to $151 billion in 2021, while imports grew to $127 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $24.0 billion, down from $28.6 billion in 2020. Exports are expected to rise 7.3% in 2022, to $162 billion, while imports are expected to grow 7.1%, to $136 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $26 billion. By 2025, U.S. exports are predicted to reach $182 billion, according to the Year-End 2021 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook.

Prepared annually by ACC’s Economics and Statistics Department, the Year-End 2021 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook is the association’s review of the U.S. and global business of chemistry and the macroeconomy. It offers global and domestic chemical industry data related to production, trade, shipments, capacity utilization, end-use markets, R&D spending, capital spending, employment and wages.

RadTech Announces 2022 Conference Program

CHEVY CHASE, MD – With a focus on formulations, sustainability and new material development for UV+EB applications, RadTech, the nonprofit for the advancement of UV+EB training and education, has announced the conference program for RadTech UV+EB Technology Expo and Conference 2022, which is taking place May 9-12, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Florida. Enabling applications in printing and packaging, wood and building products, electronics, and industrial coatings will be detailed at the event with key material, formulation and process considerations.

RadTech UV+EB Technology Expo and Conference 2022 will also include more than 60 exhibitors demonstrating the application of this technology.

Two dedicated sessions on 3D printing/additive manufacturing will offer a deep dive into formulation, materials and post cure. The event also provides academic educational opportunities including a UV+EB basics course and "undergrad" and "graduate" level polymer chemistry, as well as course on design of experiments. The RadLaunch Class of 2022 will be presented at the event, showcasing start-up companies and ideas for new UV+EB applications and materials.

Study Predicts Decorative Coatings Market to Reach $91.6 billion by 2026

DUBLIN – Research and Markets has released a new report that projects the decorative coatings market will grow from $71.3 billion in 2021 to $91.6 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% between 2021 and 2026. Environment-friendly characteristics, durability and better aesthetic appearance are driving consumption of decorative coatings in various applications.

In terms of both volume and value, the residential market is expected to be the largest application segment between 2021 and 2026. Economic growth and higher incomes in the last few years have resulted in the construction of new homes and the remodeling of old ones, adding to demand. Decorative coatings for residential construction applications include new paint and repainting. These coatings mainly include architectural and functional products, such as paints, stains, lacquers, primers and cleaners.

Polyurethane is expected to be the fastest-growing resin segment, in terms of volume, between 2021 and 2026. Polyurethanes are versatile materials that can be tailored to achieve the required hardness, cure speeds, viscosities, and mechanical and thermal properties for many different applications. Polyurethane resins impart toughness and abrasion resistance to wood coatings, floor finishes and coatings for other demanding applications. Other applications where polyurethane coatings can be used are heavy-duty exterior and interior structures, paper mills, power plants, offshore structures, oil field machinery, exterior surfaces of steel tanks, handrails, conveyors, and chemical processing equipment.

The report projects that APAC will be the largest and fastest growing market for decorative coatings during the forecast period. The region has witnessed significant economic growth over the last decade. APAC encompasses a diverse range of economies with different levels of economic development and multiple industries. A high economic growth rate and heavy investment across industries, such as building and construction and furniture, contribute to this trend. Key players are expanding their decorative coatings production in APAC, especially in China and India, due to advantages such as the low cost of production and the ability to better cater to emerging local markets.

The report, Decorative Coatings Market Resin Type (Acrylic, Alkyd), Technology (Waterborne, Solvent-borne, Powder), User Type (DIY, Professional), Coating Type (Interior, Exterior), Application (Residential, Non-Residential), and Region — Global Forecast to 2026, is available now from Research and Markets.

According to the report, regulatory policies will have a significant impact on the paint and coatings industry. Potential changes in regulations can create uncertainty throughout the value chain, and manufacturers need to take time to adapt technology to the new regulations. Different time-consuming regulatory changes in different regions can impact raw material producers, formulators, channel partners and end users. This means that decorative coatings producers must constantly evolve their processes to comply with the new policies and reduce VOC emissions.

Coatings Trends & Technologies and Powder Coating Summit Issue Call for Speakers

TROY, MI – Coatings Trends and Technologies (CTT) and the Powder Coating Summit (PCS) will be co-locating on Sept. 8-9, 2022, in Lombard, Illinois. Each event will have separate conference tracks, but will share an exhibit hall.

The Call for Speakers for both CTT and PCS is now open through April 1. Both liquid and powder coating professionals are invited to submit an abstract to present at the appropriate event. Click here to learn more and submit to CTT, and click here for PCS.