Axalta Coating Systems and Ducks Unlimited, the world leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, have jointly announced that restoration work on the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge is the first conservation project reinforced by their partnership. This project marks the first of many cooperative ventures as part of a $10 million conservation program supported by Axalta over the course of five years.

The announcement occurred in Houston, Texas where leaders from Axalta and Ducks Unlimited were joined by members of the community, including representatives from A&A Coating, Inc., a Texas-based leader in the oil and gas pipe coating industry and an Axalta customer.

“Today is an exciting day for Ducks Unlimited and Axalta as we commit to the restoration and enhancement of 300 acres of managed, freshwater wetlands,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall. “With Axalta’s generous support, we can continue our work to improve habitats for waterfowl and other migratory birds, while making significant progress toward our Rescue Our Wetlands campaign goals.”

The Gulf Coast is a priority landscape for Ducks Unlimited. The coastal prairies and marshes of Texas and Louisiana winter up to 15 million waterfowl each year and serve as nurseries for commercially and recreationally important fisheries. Working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited will add water control structures and earthen levees to facilitate better habitat management on this public-access refuge outside of Houston. The work on the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge will begin as soon as site conditions allow.

“We are proud to be a part of the work that Ducks Unlimited and Axalta are doing to protect our environment, especially here in Texas,” said Robert Langbartels, General Manager of A&A Coating, Inc. “Axalta and A&A Coating share a strong bond. Our companies care deeply about preserving the environment and value the great work that Ducks Unlimited does to protect and restore that environment. This is also a great project for our employees who will be able to benefit from the restoration of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge right here in Texas.”

“Thousands of Axalta employees around the world are deeply passionate about conservation, from the impact of our coatings to participating in making the products we paint last longer to our environmentally responsible manufacturing processes,” said Mike Cash, President of Axalta’s Industrial Coatings business. “We have partnered with A&A Coating and Ducks Unlimited because they share that same commitment to conservation and to taking the leadership roles needed to conserve and restore our natural resources. All of us at Axalta are as proud of our ability to support the important work that Ducks Unlimited does to sustain and protect the environment as we are of our ability to help sustain and protect the products that great customers like A&A coat every day.”

A major developer, manufacturer, and seller of industrial coatings in the United States and in 130 countries around the world, Axalta makes protecting and conserving natural resources a corporate priority. Sophisticated technology is used to produce coatings in sustainable and responsible ways, enabling Axalta’s customers to save energy and reduce carbon (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions.

Axalta’s colorful coatings can be seen on cars and commercial vehicles ranging from trucks and buses to ATVs and construction equipment. Coatings also protect oil and gas pipelines from corrosive underground environments.