How to enhance sustainability in the painting and decorating sector

Now more than ever, environmental concerns are taking centre stage and contractors need to be well-informed about the latest sustainable practices and products that can help meet their clients’ environmental goals. At Dulux Decorator Centre, we are committed to helping customers uphold sustainable standards, ensuring that businesses have the tools they need to make greener choices.

In a rapidly evolving industry, it can be hard to stay informed on the latest technologies, materials, and practices that can help to reduce your business’ environmental impact. That's why it's important to choose a supplier that keeps you well informed.

At Dulux Decorator Centre, we take pride in our commitment to keeping customers updated on the latest innovations – and ensure our in-store team and account managers are on hand to support you and provide tailored advice for your project. We also have a whole host of information on the latest sustainable developments on our website.

Here are some of the solutions we have to offer:

Bulk packaging

One of our latest sustainable innovations is the current trial of bulk 170L reusable containers that provide customers with the paint they need, but in more sustainable packaging, as there is less plastic waste.

For example, on larger projects, the use of 10L containers means a significant amount of plastic is used and potentially wasted if the cans are not recycled. With waste reduction targets becoming increasingly common across the industry, our bulk containers are the ideal solution to help contractors meet these goals.

At present Dulux Trade Fast Matt in White and Dulux Trade Supermatt in White and Almond White are available in the 170L bulk containers. These containers are well suited for large new or retrofit projects spanning a range of sectors, including housing, education, healthcare, and commercial premises.

By actively seeking out and adopting the latest innovations, you'll not only improve your project outcomes but also position your business as a leader in environmentally conscious construction. Embracing sustainable advancements can lead to cost savings, reduced emissions, and have a positive impact on both your bottom line and the planet.

Recycled paint  

Dulux Trade Evolve Matt is another sustainable solution. It incorporates 35% recycled paint content and offers lower embodied carbon compared to standard equivalents. This choice not only helps to reduce waste but also cuts carbon emissions, while providing excellent coverage and a high-quality finish for walls and ceilings. Dulux Trade stands as the first major paint manufacturer to produce recycled paint, offering a simple, sustainable solution for contractors.

Low VOC Paints

One of the most pressing environmental concerns in the paint industry revolves around the impact of solvents on indoor air quality, primarily due to the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs, which evaporate at room temperature and react with nitrogen oxides in sunlight, contribute to the formation of greenhouse gases. They can be found in a range of sources, including fuels, cleaning products, furnishings, and paints.

While VOC emissions from decorative paint constitute a relatively small portion of the UK's overall pollutants (1%), they still impact a product's environmental footprint and indoor air quality negatively. Solvent-based paints tend to contain higher levels of VOCs. As such, making the switch to low VOC, water-based paints is a significantly more sustainable choice. Transitioning from solvent-based to water-based trim paints not only reduces carbon emissions but also expedites project completion, leading to increased productivity.

Dulux Decorator Centre is committed to increasing the amount of water-based paint sold through our 230+ stores. We are aiming to make the switch over to more sustainable products as easy as possible for our customers, especially for trim paints used on wood and metal. We are also moving all our high-volume wall paints over to 99.9% VOC-free (Volatile Organic Compound) with the new improved Dulux Trade Diamond Matt being the latest formulation to change*. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is also highly durable, helping contractors to extend maintenance cycles and support their clients in reducing environmental impact over a building’s lifetime.

At Dulux Decorator Centre, we also offer products that adhere to environmental assessment methods such as the BREEAM framework, LEED, and the WELL Standard. These products help building contractors address indoor air quality issues and attain their sustainability objectives.

Can recycling

Waste management is a substantial challenge in the construction industry. Reducing waste should be viewed as an opportunity to recycle or repurpose materials, contributing to the reduction of harmful carbon emissions and the achievement of net-zero goals.

Dulux Decorator Centre partners with Veolia to offer an empty can recycling service. To date, it has collected over one million paint cans, exemplifying initiatives that enhance the industry's environmental efficiency. The service accepts a wide range of empty metal or plastic cans and recycles the metal cans into new steel and shredding and returns plastic cans to the plastics market.

Donating leftover paint

Contractors can also explore Community RePaint, which allows you to donate partially full paint cans at the end of a project. This UK-wide paint reuse network, sponsored by Dulux, collects leftover paint and redistributes it at an affordable cost, diverting it away from landfills.

Achieving sustainability doesn't always require monumental efforts, especially with the support of an expert supplier. Simple, decisive actions, such as choosing low VOC paints, opting for durable products, and participating in recycling initiatives at Dulux Decorator Centre, can make a significant contribution to sustainability of your project. These steps not only enhance your business's sustainability credentials and showcase best practices but can also help you win new business.

To explore how Dulux Decorator Centre can support your business in improving sustainability, visit: www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/our-sustainability-story

*Based on in-can VOC content, measured in accordance with ISO 11890-2:2013