Six Sustainable Solution Categories, One Structured Programme
Sustainability assessment in Coatings & Construction needs to be grounded in evidence. Whether the application is a coating, adhesive, construction chemical, or ink system, the same question usually applies: can the product support a specific sustainability-related objective without compromising the technical requirements of the formulation?
The IMCD Sustainable Solutions Programme provides a structured way to answer that question. It classifies additives, fillers, pigments, resins, binders, speciality solvents and other speciality raw materials against defined criteria, using measurable thresholds and proof documents.
Why Sustainability Assessment Matters for Coatings & Construction
For formulators, sustainability-related claims can only be useful when the basis is clear. A material may support lower VOC content, improved durability, reduced material use, lower calculated carbon footprint or the replacement of selected substances of concern. Each route requires different evidence and, in many cases, a defined test method or calculation basis.
This is why a structured assessment is needed. It helps define the relevant product attribute, the applicable category and the proof needed to support the claim. It also keeps the discussion linked to formulation reality, where performance, compliance and application conditions have to be considered together.
The IMCD Sustainable Solutions Programme
The IMCD Sustainable Solutions Programme groups sustainability-related contributions into six Sustainable Solution categories. These categories give technical and commercial teams a consistent language for reviewing products, discussing formulation options and identifying where supporting data is needed.
The programme does not label a product as “sustainable” in absolute terms. It identifies where a material may support a specific sustainability-related route, provided the defined criteria and evidence requirements are met.
Understanding the Six Sustainable Solution Categories for Coatings & Construction
For Coatings & Construction, the six categories help connect sustainability-related criteria to practical formulation decisions. A product can qualify in one or more categories, depending on the available data and its role in the final formulation.
| Category | What Qualifies - Criteria and Examples |
|---|---|
| Circular & Renewable |
Materials in this category aim to reduce dependency on fossil-based resources. They embrace circularity by harnessing renewable, bio-based, recycled, or waste materials, thereby contributing to a more efficient resource ecosystem. Relevant examples include bio-based acrylics, water-based alkyds, biodegradable coalescing agents, and recycled-content fillers such as calcium carbonate from eggshells. |
| Durability & Maintenance |
Materials in this category aim to enhance longevity. They not only improve performance but also decrease maintenance needs. This translates to significant resource savings over a product's lifecycle. Relevant examples include anti-corrosion pigments, super-durable resins, UV absorbers, and shrinkage-compensating additives for mortar systems. |
| Emissions, Waste & Resources |
Materials in this category aim to reduce or eliminate carbon footprints, VOCs, waste on storage, packaging and transport, and water and land impacts. This translates to lower environmental impacts from cradle to grave. Relevant examples include low-CO₂ dry-mix enablers, VOC-free coalescing agents, low-MFFT binders, and water-reducing additives such as slump-retaining superplasticizer powders. |
| Material Efficiency & Innovation |
Materials in this category achieve comparable or superior performance while demanding fewer resources. This is achieved through the optimisation of active ingredients, volume solids, or overall formulation performance. Relevant examples include higher-solids resins, high-opacity pigments, solventless silane-based water repellents, and direct-to-metal coatings. |
| People, Health & Safety |
Materials in this category prioritise the well-being of both users and the environment. They eliminate hazardous substances and enable the formulation of safer products. Relevant examples include biocide-free pigment dispersions, biocide-free additives, powdered paint systems, and alternatives to PFAS-based technologies. |
| Productivity & Energy Savings |
Materials in this category increase productivity, reduce the need for energy in manufacturing or application, or deliver energy savings in the end use. Relevant examples include LED-curing systems, easy-to-disperse fumed silica, thermal insulation systems, and cool pigments. |
Where the Categories Apply in Coatings & Construction Formulation
The categories map onto routes that formulators already consider when developing or optimising a system. They are not separate from technical performance. A lower-VOC option, for example, still needs to meet application, film formation, compatibility and durability requirements in the target formulation.
This makes the programme relevant across the Coatings & Construction portfolio, from decorative and industrial coatings to construction chemicals, adhesives and sealants, inks and paper-related applications. To make the assessment more precise, each of the six main categories is further divided into detailed subcategories.
These subcategories define the specific sustainability-related route being assessed and help link each product review to its intended use and available evidence.
- Circular & Renewable: bio-based, biodegradable, low fossil-based content, recyclable, and upcycling or waste-to-raw-material.
- Durability & Maintenance: easy-to-clean and lifetime-extending benefits.
- Emissions, Waste & Resources: CO₂ reducing, contamination-free, land-use reducing, reducing packaging and transport, shelf-life improving, VOC reducing, and water reducing.
- Material Efficiency & Innovation: material-use reducing and volume-solids increasing.
- People, Health & Safety: biocide-free solutions and SVHC replacement.
- Productivity & Energy: curing-temperature improvement, manufacturing-process improvement, and insulating or cooling.
How IMCD Supports More Sustainable Coatings & Construction Solutions
IMCD supports Coatings & Construction customers with speciality raw materials, market insights, technical expertise and laboratory support. In this context, the Sustainable Solutions Programme helps structure early product selection and reformulation discussions around defined criteria rather than broad claims.
For formulation chemists and technical managers, this creates a practical starting point: which route is relevant, what evidence is available and how the material performs in the intended formulation. IMCD can help review suitable technologies, clarify category requirements and identify the documentation needed to support a technical and transparent sustainability-related discussion.
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