Green building initiatives are booming, with demand for eco-friendly practises and technologies growing rapidly.
With tighter government policies to reduce waste, water usage and carbon emissions, and more awareness on the role construction plays in meeting targets, traditional methods are being used less and less.
Having said that, demand for more eco-friendly alternatives doesn’t just come from government targets. Protests and worldwide strikes led by the likes of Greta Thunberg have caused a surge in concern about climate change, with more of us conscious about preserving the environment for future generations. This has had a massive knock-on effect on the building industry, with new green initiatives designed to encourage developers to seek out innovative alternatives.
In fact, a 2018 study carried out by the World Green Building Council revealed that almost half (47%) of industry respondents expected to build more than half of their projects as a green building by the year 2021.
With architects and developers looking for economical and sustainable materials and technologies, it’s no surprise that techniques such as powder coating are becoming increasingly popular.
What is powder coating?
Powder coating is a dry finishing process where the coating is applied as a free-flowing powder.
As opposed to conventional liquid paint which requires a solvent to suspend the components in a liquid, with the powder coating process the components are mixed, melted, cooled and ground into a powder. This powder is then applied to a surface using an electrostatic charge, which is then cured so that it forms a hard finish, much more durable than conventional paint.
Powder coating is fast becoming the eco-friendly choice for architects and developers for several reasons. Here are just a few…
1. Powder coating
The very nature of powder coating is what makes it a more sustainable alternative. Dry powder ultilises finely ground particles that are electro-statically charged and sprayed onto surfaces, meaning…
2. …no solvents!
Conventional liquid spray paints are highly flammable and full of solvents, which contain high quantities of volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) which produce emissions that are damaging to the environment and can be harmful to human health. Because no solvents are present, powder coating is an environmentally friendly and cost effective alternative to traditional liquid paints.
3. No heavy metals or halogens
Unlike other finishes, powder coatings don’t contain heavy metals such as cadmium and lead.
4. Over-spray can be recycled
Powder coating helps to eliminate wastage. As the application is done electrostatically, some powders which are over-sprayed can be collected and reused once more, which means less waste and less energy and resources are required to produce more powder.
5. Less packaging
The nature of powder coating means that it requires significantly less packing than a liquid spray. This also means that more can be transported at once resulting in less fuel required for transportation.
6. No pollutants
Another environmental advantage of powder coating is that it doesn’t release any hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).
7. Strong and durable
Compared to other alternatives, a powder coating gives an incredibly durable, long lasting and hard finish which stands up against weather exposure, UV, impact, temperature, and chemicals. The strength and durability of powder coating reduces the energy and resources needed for regular maintenance.
8. Less Co2 emissions
Liquid paints are known for their high levels of harmful emissions, causing a significant impact on our carbon footprint. In comparison, powder coatings release no solvent emissions.
9. A world of options!
Powder coating can take the appearance of a number of different textures and finishes such as wood. This gives you the option to achieve the appearance of wood without destroying scarce natural resources.
Still not convinced that powder coating is the environmentally friendly choice for your next project? Consider this – using powder coating over a solvent-based spray paint reduces the carbon footprint by 50%!
Powder coating truly offers a world of possibilities. Aesthetic appeal, range of colours, textures, durability, quality and, of course, sustainability.
When it comes to powder coating, there’s a lot to love!