Creative Formulation in an Age of Complex Regulation

The coatings industry continues to face ever-increasing legislative pressure, driven by concerns surrounding health, the environment, and product safety.  While well-intended and usually necessary, it can have unintended consequences and restrict long-established products, introducing novel challenges for formulators.  Recent case studies include microplastics in seed coatings, biocide labelling, Titanium dioxide classification, and PFAS.  This fast-paced regulatory landscape requires inventive formulating to deliver solutions and high-quality products to customers.  The industry constantly evolves and roles surrounding regulation are more critical than ever.  This evolution also means that there is an increasing requirement for collaborations between industry and academia to negotiate these regulatory constraints. This paper aims to highlight formulating challenges using recent examples driven by regulatory changes.