Coatings and Catwalks, sustainability in paint and pre-loved clothing

In this issue of Looped In, we catch up with Paddy Dyson from HMG Paints Ltd to learn more about how sustainability and circularity are impacting ‘one of the most observed man-made products’ – paint! We also take a look at the growing popularity of pre-loved clothing, which hit the catwalks at London Fashion Week, and provide a round-up of news and views that have grabbed our attention. 

Paint, packaging and sustainability

Looped In: Please tell us a bit about HMG Paints.

Paddy: “We’re a family-owned company that’s been in business for almost 100 years. HMG Paints was founded in 1930 by the Falder family, who still own and run the company today. We develop and manufacture a wide range of paints, offering over 4,000 different products and have more than 98,000 formulations on our colour data base. Our paints are used in an array of different industries, from decorative purposes in buildings, through to specialist applications in arts and crafts, commercial vehicles, industrial, agriculture and the defence sector. 

“We work closely with customers to ensure they’ve got the right paint for the job. Aesthetics are important, but there’s so much more to the performance of paint. Take the defence sector, for example, where military vehicles will face extreme conditions and climates. Paint systems made up of primers and top coats provide much-needed protection against corrosion, helping vehicles and equipment to last longer. This is why it’s so important that we work in partnership with customers. 

“If we properly understand a customer’s technical problems, we can determine exactly what they need from a paint and provide support and training in how coatings are applied. Also, if we don’t have the exact paint they need, we can develop a solution that’s bespoke. It’s for these reasons that we’re proud to have customer relationships spanning 25 – 30 years plus.”

Looped In: How are sustainability trends impacting what you do? 

Paddy: “Paint is an interesting and quite unusual product when it comes to sustainability. It must be one of the most observed, man-made products there is, but probably one of the least thought about, and especially when it comes to thinking about the environment. You don’t see as much focus on paint and sustainability, as you do with other products that people come into daily contact with, like packaging. 

“There is, however, a growing trend in water-based paints, which is being driven by sustainability. The basic premise here is that businesses are looking to move away from solvent-based paints to reduce environmental impact. There is a lot of merit to this, and it’s something HMG embraces during R&D – around 30% of our products are now water-based. Saying that, there’s much more to consider when thinking about paint and sustainability. For some coatings, it can prove more sustainable to use a solvent-based solution.”

Looped In: How do you determine whether a water-based or solvent-based paint is the most sustainable choice?

Paddy: “It’s important to look at the full context of what the paint is being used for. As well as aesthetics, other key factors need to be taken into account, including the length of time the coating is required for, and any durability demands. A decision can then be made that considers more than just the base material of the paint to deliver wider sustainability benefits. 

“Some of the coastal applications that our paints are used for, are good examples of this broader context. Equipment used near to the sea can be exposed to very abrasive weather conditions. A solvent-based coating may prove more resistant to salty sea winds and moisture than a water-based alternative, resulting in equipment being protected for longer. This can mean less maintenance of equipment, fewer applications of the paint over a given period, and it can also avoid accelerated wear and tear. In such a case, a solvent-based system may save resources and prove the most effective, sustainable choice. 

“It’s a similar set of circumstances for paint coatings of some commercial vehicles. A coating that effectively protects a vehicle’s chassis and bodywork can help prolong the life of that vehicle and reduce repairs, replacement parts and general maintenance.”

Looped In: Are you seeing any impact of sustainability on the packaging of paint?

Paddy: “Recycled content and recyclability are key sustainability themes for paint packaging. Plastic paint pots are being manufactured using varying levels of recycled, post-consumer waste, and are also increasingly compatible with local recycling services. Some plastic pots can be recycled in household recycling bins, as long as they are properly cleaned first.  

“There’s also examples of innovative new packaging formats. For example, YesColours use flexible packaging, with paint sold in pouches. This uses less resources during manufacturing of the packaging, while also saving space during transportation and storage. The pouches can also be easily recycled at supermarkets or at home. 

“We utilise a mix of different packaging types, including metal paint tins. These are fully recyclable and extremely durable, which can help minimise damage and wastage during transportation and storage.”

Looped In: How is circularity impacting paint supply chains? 

Paddy: “The re-use and recycling of old, forgotten paint is a big focus and the British Coatings Federation (BCF) does a fantastic job here. Its PaintCare scheme is designed to create a circular economy for leftover decorative paint, with estimates of 55million litres of waste paint being generated in the UK each year. 

“Just 2% of this waste paint is re-used or re-manufactured, and the BCF is aiming to increase this to 75% by 2030. The BCF is building a network of consumers and trade, and developing routes to improve how much waste paint is collected for recycling. Waste paint can be remanufactured to avoid it going to waste.”

Looped In: Thanks to Paddy for taking the time to speak with us. Visit HMG Paints to find out more about how this innovative manufacturer is working with customers and partners, including the likes of FC United of Manchester and Prodrive, where the company’s range of coatings have been applied to an Aston Martin Vantage GT3. 

Pre-loved, from fashion parades to packaging

London Fashion Week – and fashion weeks in general – are ‘the’ places to find the latest collections from trend-setting labels. You wouldn’t usually expect to see catwalk models styled in clothes from seasons gone by, but that is a hot trend, which seems to be getting even hotter.

September’s London Fashion Week opened with a star-studded runway show from Oxfam and second-hand fashion marketplace Vinted. Named ‘Style For Change’, the show formed part of the not-for-profit’s ‘Second Hand September’ campaign, with famous faces hitting the catwalk in pre-loved outfits styled by the pioneer of second-hand fashion, stylist Bay Garnett. 

Elsewhere at London Fashion Week, eBay held its inaugural Preloved Fashion Week. In partnership with the British Fashion Council, an ‘Endless Runway’ show featured second-hand clothing that celebrated the last four decades of the capital’s renowned fashion event. 

Both these initiatives attracted widespread interest, leaving little doubt about the growing popularity of pre-loved clothing. Indeed, Oxfam cited its new research showing that two thirds of people (65%) in the UK own second-hand clothing, while one in 10 say the majority of the clothes they buy in the next 12 months will be second-hand.

Similarly, previous research by Duo of 1,000 Gen Z consumers found that clothing, accessories and footwear account for 60% of the items that Gen Zs are more inclined to buy in a pre-loved condition, rather than shopping for a new item first. It also highlighted that 1-in-5 fashion purchases made online by Gen Zs was a pre-loved item and that 60% are more likely to buy from a retailer which sells pre-loved goods.

The popularity of recommerce is growing, with retailers increasingly looking at how they evolve their services to engage changing consumer attitudes and behaviours. Trade-in, resell and repair options are popping up in stores and online. However, that’s not the only impact of the shift towards second-hand. There’s also a growing expectation among shoppers that packaging needs to match the resourcefulness of recommerce. 

Consumers are buying and selling used items to save money, but to also maximise the lifespan of products and to reduce environmental impact. This is changing views of sustainability in packaging and it’s becoming increasingly important for packaging to be about more than recyclability and recycled content. It must also be reusable.  

Duo asked Gen Z what changes they would make to packaging to suit the pre-loved market, with research responses highlighting the ability to reseal packaging and to easily change postal addresses ranking highly. Data also revealed the importance of making packaging stronger and longer lasting so that it can be used multiple times.

Pre-loved is having far-reaching impacts, from fashion parades to packaging, and driving a new trend of evermore resourceful retail. What do you think? How is recommerce and the shift towards used goods affecting you and your business? 

All packaged up, a snapshot of news and views

Here the Looped In team share the news stories and articles that have caught our attention over the past few weeks. 

Labour set to water down Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging 

A report in the The Sunday Times suggests that the Labour government will cut the fees previously suggested for the EPR for packaging. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has said it will make changes after listening to businesses, with prices across almost all categories of packaging, from plastic to glass, expected to be announced week commencing 30th September 2024. Businesses that handle and supply packaging to consumers or other companies are due to be charged from April 2025 to cover costs for waste collection, recycling and disposal. 

Capri Sun petitions for lifting of plastic straw ban 

In a move that’s created some controversy and criticism, beverage manufacturer Capri Sun Group Group is pushing to bring back plastic straws. The company wants the European Commission to allow the reintroduction of plastic straws, as it claims paper straws are not an optimal solution for the recyclability of its drinking pouches. The move hasn’t proved universally popular, with different groups branding it ‘misleading’. Read more in Food Ingredients.  

Getting to GRIPS with sustainability, recycling and materials 

The fourth annual Global Research and Innovation in Plastics Sustainability (GRIPS) conference focused on three key themes this year including sustainability, recycling and materials. Organised by Innovate UK and the British Plastics Federation (BPF), delegates gathered at Sheffield University to look at innovations, best-practice and business models that will lead to more sustainable plastics. The conference also saw the launch of Innovate UK’s new report - 'Sustainable Carbon Ambition for the UK Chemicals Industry' – an insightful read about diversifying away from virgin fossil carbon. Visit Hydrocarbon Engineering to read more.

Bio-based plastics in a net zero circular economy 

We’ve always found Braskem to deliver thought-provoking knowledge and opinions and this article is a case in point. It looks at decarbonisation in the plastics sector and why sugar cane might prove a viable solution for reducing carbon emissions. Bio-based plastics, including those derived from sugar cane, can abate and avoid emissions that fossil plastics cannot. Growing sugar cane can also fixate carbon in the soil, if grown on degraded land, and doesn’t disrupt the Amazon rainforest. Take a look at the article to learn more. 

What sustainability and circularity stories have caught your eye recently? Let us know in the comments.