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Paint and Coatings
Paint and Coatings Links
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The Paint and Coatings Sector is one of 13 sectors in the EPA Sector Strategies Program. This page provides information about the sector and how we are working with the sector.
On this page:
New
EPA Study Estimates the Quantity of Post-Consumer Paint that is Disposed by Americans Each Year
EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock released a study on April 18, 2007, that estimates that about 10 percent of the house paint purchased in the U.S. each year is ultimately discarded -- corresponding to about 65 to 69 million gallons. This study was released at a national meeting of the Paint Product Stewardship Initiative. This multi-stakeholder dialogue, spearheaded by the Product Stewardship Institute, has brought together paint manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, EPA officials and representatives from more than two dozen state and local agencies, to find better ways to manage leftover house paint. The new study fills a critical information gap by defining the scope of the leftover paint problem, as well as the size of the potential resource pool that is available for the production of recycled content paint (see Related Links below).
Contact
Barry Elman (elman.barry@epa.gov)
National Paint and Coatings Sector Point-of-Contact
(202) 566-2958
Sector Profile
The U.S. paint and coatings industry is comprised of approximately 1500 establishments engaged in mixing pigments, solvents, and binders into a wide variety of products that preserve, protect and beautify the objects to which they are applied. Paint and coating products are commonly grouped into three categories:
Architectural coatings include interior and exterior paints, primers, sealers, varnishes and stains that are applied on-site to new and existing residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings.
Industrial coatings are coatings that are factory-applied to manufactured goods as part of the production process. They are used to decorate and protect a wide variety of products, including motor vehicles, appliances, beverage cans, furniture, machinery and electrical equipment.
Special purpose coatings include marine paints, high performance maintenance coatings, automotive refinish paints, transportation markings and aerosol paints. Such coatings are generally used where durability is a key objective.
In 2002 the U.S. paint and coatings industry sold 1.46 billion gallons of product, valued at $17.2 billion. As of 1997, the industry employed approximately 53,000 people.
Working with the industry
EPA's Sector Strategies Program works with representatives of the paint and coatings sector and other stakeholders to assess opportunities to improve environmental performance while reducing regulatory burden. The program's work focuses on three priority areas:
- Promoting environmental management systems
- Overcoming regulatory or other barriers to performance improvement
- Performance measurement. Read the Paint and Coatings chapter in the Sector Strategies Performance Report.
Trade associations
The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) 
is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association comprised of over 400
paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. NPCA companies collectively produce some 90% of the total dollar volume of architectural paints and industrial coatings produced in the United States.
David Darling (ddarling@paint.org)
Director, Environmental Affairs
(202) 462-6272
1500 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005