How Green is the Pope?

For all of you readers of The Economist magazine, you might recognize the above headline. The article talks about a religious statement that was issued by the Vatican which affirms that “carbon emitted by humans is the main reason why the Earth is warming and urges rapid action especially by rich countries to curb it.” Whatever your religious or political beliefs or your personal views on climate change, this has an impact by citing the “green” ideas of the church.

I want to target this column, my final column as the Executive Director of the Powder Coating Institute (PCI®), on the more than 20,000 readers of this magazine who manufacture products sold to consumers—whether through distribution, big box retailers, mid- and small-size retailers, or just to homeowners looking for a stronger and better coated product.

You have the opportunity of a lifetime by promoting powder coating as a green technology! Don’t blow it! There, I said it.

PCI® has spent a lot of time and money trying to “spread the gospel” that powder coating is a greener technology than other coatings. Powder coating produces no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). And it can be sprayed far more efficiently than liquid coatings. The Powder Coating Institute offers product manufacturers the ability to use The Stamp, which promotes the fact that powder coating is a Stronger-GreenerBetter coating technology, for free.

I think you will agree that it is rare that you walk into a store—like Home Depot—and see The Stamp, or frankly anything that promotes the fact that the product has been powder coated. But that is precisely what is required to continue to drive this industry forward.

Millennials (young adults, ages 1834) are looking at products that appeal to their sense of “greenness” whether that entails organic foods, beef and chicken without hormones, sustainable products and recycling. Powder coating would fit neatly in that sentence as well; it is a green technology. And it is not just millennials who are interested in powder coating’s green attributes. Architects doing work for municipalities and commercial buildings are recognizing the environmental benefits of powder coating, which is one of the reasons PCI® is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Just think about what would happen if every manufactured product finished with powder coating was identified with The Stamp! And think about if every salesperson said to the prospective buyer that this product is powder coated—a Stronger-GREENER-Better finish! What is incredible is that identifying products as powder coated requires almost no money, very little effort and would drive this industry to even greater heights.

As I have said for the past three years, I believe powder coating is not a mature industry. Rather, it has just begun its long and upward ascension as the preferred coating technology. Call or email the Powder Coating Institute (www.powder coating.org) to receive more information about The Stamp and what you can do to promote powder coating.

Au revoir!

Dave Lurie
Executive Director, PCI®