Sustainably Advantaged Products

Consumers' expectations of sustainability and product performance are increasing, and companies like PPG must innovate to meet increased demands, with a focus on minimizing resources through circular practices. There is increasing demand for products that use fewer natural resource use and produce less waste.

Our architectural coatings business in Europe identified a significant opportunity to meet market demand for products with sustainability benefits. With the introduction of paints with lower environmental impacts in the European market, including low fossil carbon paints in the PPG brands Seigneurie Pantex and Guittet Odyssée PPG brands, we have provided mass market access to low-carbon, bio-based paints without compromising on affordability or performance. These competitively positioned products have been widely embraced by trade professionals and end consumers, demonstrating PPG's industry leadership in driving towards a more sustainable future.

In May 2023, PPG introduced PPG Advanced Surface Technologies, a new joint venture formed with entrotech, Inc. The joint venture is aimed at providing paint and clear film solutions for automotive and industrial customers. Paint films are multilayer applications that include a protective film wrapping and at least one layer of paint. This technology is currently used for automotive applications and has potential applications across a range of industrial end-uses.

Films have a range of customer benefits. Notably, the product is less complicated to apply than conventional automotive coatings. Paint films offer a consistent finish without the need for a paint booth. Films produce less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) overall, and do not produce hazardous waste during application so there is less need for protective equipment and safety training. Films have a less energy-intensive curing process, which streamlines the application and reduces customer energy costs. These combined benefits make paint films attractive for customers.

PPG's customers are facing growing demands to reduce their environmental impacts across their operations. We are collaborating closely with our customers to incorporate sustainably advantaged solutions from the early design phase of their product lifecycles.

After anticipating a series of regulatory changes, our global account team approached HP, a leading consumer electronics brand, on a product innovation that replaces traditional solvent-based coatings with waterborne alternatives. Waterborne coatings can have lower environmental and human health impacts for the workers that apply our products, without compromising on quality. Placing sustainability at the heart of our value proposition allowed PPG to secure a preferred supplier position and collaborate closely with the team at HP on product strategy. In 2023, sales of our waterborne coatings increased 30% and overall sales to HP also grew significantly. Understanding HP's needs and advancing sustainably advantaged products allowed PPG to partner with HP to deliver lower impact coatings for their products. Listen to a conversation between PPG and HP about the innovation.

Packaging is a key component of a product's environmental footprint. As part of our efforts to reduce packaging waste, Dyrup paint by PPG, sold in the Scandinavian region, has introduced new "bag-in-a-box" packaging made from 75% recyclable and biodegradable materials for its Dyrup Wall Extra Covering paint. The packaging is made from 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper and cardboard, which ensures that the materials come from responsible forestry and forest conservation suppliers worldwide. The new packaging uses 81% less plastic and was designed to make shipping and handling the paints easier than conventional packaging.

In addition to its sustainable properties, the Dyrup bag-in-box is easy to use and minimizes product dry-out. The handling and smart tapping function make the application of Dyrup Wall Extra Covering paint simple and hassle-free. The bag-in-box concept has been recognized for its practicality, manageability and environmental benefits by ScanStar, a competition that has been held annually since 1969 by the Scandinavian Packaging Association.

The Comex brand by PPG is contributing to plastic circularity through its TOP line of products that leverage both circularity and provide sustainable advantages. In 2023, the company launched one of several offerings in the lineup, TOP Impertop S, a new asphalt waterproofing product that is reinforced with recycled polyethylene from plastic bags. The product is intended for application on roofs to provide waterproofing. Our Comex team has already recycled more than 42 tons of plastic in Impertop S.

We collaborate closely with customers to ensure our products meet their performance expectations while delivering real-world sustainability benefits.

One example is the PPG ENVIROPRIME^™ EPIC300 line of electrocoat products, which cure at a lower temperature and require less process time than conventional electrocoat products. These features are especially valuable to manufacturers that produce electric vehicles, which require heavier metal supports, resulting in longer required coating cure times. Regardless of whether the model is electric or a traditional combustion engine, PPG Enviroprime products help automotive customers use less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions while improving the quality of their finished goods.