The British Coatings Federation (BCF) launched its recommendations and interim report on how to create a circular economy for leftover paint at the House of Commons. The PaintCare report has 15 recommendations on how to deliver the ambitious target of removing 50 percent of leftover decorative paint from the general waste stream, creating a new remanufacturing sector. The event united decorative paint manufacturers, retailers, trade associations, waste management companies, local and national Government and other third-sector organizations, and included a speech from Defra Minister Rory Stewart to a packed room of delegates.

The Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State at Defra, Rory Stewart MP, who has responsibility for waste, said: “Every year 55 million liters of decorative paint is leftover in the UK, so I welcome PaintCare’s initiative. It is vital that we encourage innovation and make better use of our resources if we are to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and create new markets.”

Tom Bowtell, Chief Executive of the BCF, said: “I’m thrilled that the event was so well attended and we were delighted that the Minister could attend and support PaintCare. In order for PaintCare to succeed we need the Government’s backing, and I’m excited about the project’s next stages.”