We have learned that every element of the product life cycle has implications for the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability, and that all three elements need to be taken into account when new products are being developed.

Sustainable development in the United States went up several notches in political priority following the recent speech on Climate Change by President Obama.

The push toward green technology and sustainability has been at the forefront of the global coatings industry for many years now, as is evident in the many articles, news stories and new product announcements we publish each month.

It has often been said that the coatings industry is not only the most looked at but also the most overlooked, and the brochure recently published by the American Coatings Association (ACA) under its Sustainability banner entitled “Coatings Protect, Preserve and Provide” reminds us all, whether we are paint manufacturers, applicators or consumers, just what a key role coatings play in our society and our economy.

It is July and along with the barbeques, fireworks and fireflies at dusk, those of us in the paint industry can look forward to PCI’s annual ranking of the industry’s top players.