Regulatory Frameworks & Compliance Seminars

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.

The coatings industry continues to face increasing pressure from evolving regulatory and voluntary standards. Trimethylolpropane (TMP), a common surface treatment for TiO₂, was moving toward a higher hazard classification; while circumstances have evolved, it remains self-classified as Reprotoxic Category 2. This drives the need for alternatives that meet performance and compliance requirements across architectural, industrial, and powder coatings.

This paper outlines the changing regulatory landscape and shows how Chemours’ TMP-free grades provide a viable path forward. This grade offers improved wetting and enhanced dispersibility, delivering reliable performance while supporting compliance with food contact requirements and future regulatory expectations.

More information coming soon....

A discussion on how companies in the solvents sector are trying to navigate an increasingly challenging environment, with over-capacity, increasing regulation and energy costs in Europe. It remains vital to operate safely and sustainably, to mitigate those risks and pressures, working with regulators to ensure safety but avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens.

Companies must stay ahead of evolving and diverging regulations governing storage, transport, exposure limits, and environmental protection. This session will examine practical strategies for meeting safety challenges, implementing compliant handling and containment practices, and adopting innovative technologies that reduce operational risk. Through real-world case studies and expert perspectives, the panel will highlight how industry leaders are aiming to meet their challenges.

What attendees can expect from the session:

• An overview of the solvents sector and how this has evolved
• Emerging issues affecting the viability of the sector
• Signposting of resources such as the recently released safety film(s) and good practice guidance documents
• The importance of providing safety guidance across the sector
• Dealing with supply chain and security risks
• Divergence of regulation – how this is affecting the sector
• Following case studies examples
• Opportunities to ask questions

Chair: Bill Atkinson