Industries
Paints & coatings
What changes this industry: bio-solutions with evidence, technologies, suppliers and open money.
Overview of the industry
The last uncovered “dangerous chemistry” sector of the catalogue: VOC solvent systems and petro binders, isothiazolinone preservatives, and the coating chemicals regulation is steadily tightening.
Coatings are regulated as mixtures (EU CLP/biocidal products regime; VOC Directive 2004/42/EC; in Russia/EAEU: technical regulation on paint safety). The articles are overviews, not formulation or regulatory advice.
Supplier coverage (updated 2026-09-28): the first scan of the 1,320-company index returned zero paint/coating producers. Bio-based in-can preservatives (PC02) remain a supplier gap.
Articles#
| ID | Problem → alternative | Replaces | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC01 | Binders & solvents → vegetable-oil/lignin/cellulose binders, waterborne systems, bio-solvents | Petro binders; VOC solvent systems (white spirit, toluene) | Replace (many decorative/wood duties) / Partial (industrial specs) |
| PC02 | Preservation → hurdle formulation, dose-by-challenge, chitosan boosters | Routine isothiazolinone (MIT/CMIT/OIT/BIT) loading | Partial (emerging) |
Related articles elsewhere#
- Bio-solvents: I01
- Lignin adhesives: C01; cellulose insulation: C02
- Biocide-load logic: E10; cooling-water biocides: W03
- Chitosan coagulants: W01
Reviewed but SKIPPED (no proven bio-alternative)#
| Substance / use | Hazard | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt(II) drier salts in alkyds | Cobalt salts suspected carcinogens (classification) | Cobalt-free Mn/Fe driers exist but are synthetic chemistry, not bioeconomy; enzymatic drying still research |
| Hexavalent-chromium anti-corrosion primers | Cr(VI) carcinogen, REACH authorization regime | Substitutes are zinc-phosphate-type chemistry — regulatory, not biological |
| Marine antifouling paints (Cu/booster biocides) | Copper loading in marinas | Same verdict as ecology SKIPPED — foul-release coatings are silicone, not bio |
What it replaces 2
| D1 | Bio-based binders and bio-solvents instead of petrochemical resins and VOC solvent systems in paints and coatings Replaces: Petro-derived alkyd/acrylic binders; volatile organic solvent systems (white spirit, toluene, xylene) in solvent-borne paints; part of fossil monomer … | 6 | CHEM |
| D1 | Paint and coating preservation with less isothiazolinone biocide — formulation hygiene, low-water-activity and bio-based boosters Replaces: Routine isothiazolinone loading (MIT/CMIT/OIT/BIT) as in-can preservative and film antifungal in waterborne paints | 4 | CHEM |
Technologies 17
| Antifouling bio-coatings (marine) Ship-hull coatings that prevent marine biofouling using biological repellents, self-polishing polymers and biomimetic surface texture instead of toxic … | Marine biotech |
| Bio-acrylic acid Renewable routes to acrylic acid, the C3 monomer behind superabsorbent polymers, paints, coatings and adhesives, across two distinct value chains: … | Platform chemicals |
| Bio-adhesives (industrial scale) Industrial binders from soy protein, kraft lignin and mussel-inspired catechol polymers that replace formaldehyde resins in wood panels, packaging and … | Polymers & materials |
| Bio-antiflammables (flame retardants) Bio-antiflammables replace halogenated flame retardants (brominated, chlorinated) — restricted under EU REACH and displaced by regulatory pressure in the US and … | Polymers & materials |
| Bio-based polyols & biopolyurethanes Renewable hydroxyl-functional building blocks from vegetable oils, lignin and cashew nutshell liquid that replace petrochemical polyols and isocyanates in … | Polymers & materials |
| Bio-based printing inks Printing inks whose binders, solvents and additives come from vegetable oils, rosin, lignin and other renewable feedstocks rather than mineral oil — sold as … | Polymers & materials |
| Bio-based surface treatment of metals Rust preventatives, VCI films, epoxy coatings and lignin-based coatings formulated with bio-based oils, resins or lignin instead of fully petrochemical … | Specialty & fine chemicals |
| Bio-bitumen & bio-asphalt (lignin binders) Bio-bitumen and bio-asphalt replace or extend petroleum bitumen with plant-oil and lignocellulosic-biomass binders and rejuvenators. SoyLei's SIP-1111 Rejuv … | Polymers & materials |
| Bio-glues, bio-lacquers and biopolymer coatings Environmentally safe adhesives and coatings derived from lignin, soy proteins, starch, and plant oils, designed to replace formaldehyde resins and petrochemical … | Wood & construction |
| Bio-impregnation for wood Bio-impregnation for wood displaces chromated, solvent-based and petrochemical wood preservatives and finishes with renewable-feedstock chemistry: the … | Polymers & materials |
| Bio-resins for 3D printing UV-curable 3D printing resins built substantially on soybean or other plant oil rather than fully petrochemical acrylates — sold by resin producers (Anycubic, … | Polymers & materials |
| Biodyes & microbial pigments Bio-based dyes and pigments produced via microbial fermentation and synthetic biology. | Specialty & fine chemicals |
| Biosolvents & green solvents Bio-derived solvents — ethyl lactate from fermented lactic acid (Corbion's Biviture brand, Galactic's Galactic bio-solvents line, Vertec Biosolvents' corn-based … | Specialty & fine chemicals |
| Biosynthetic paraffin & bio-wax Fermenting engineered Yarrowia lipolytica yeast to biosynthesize wax esters and n-alkanes directly, then fractionating and hydrogenating them into … | Polymers & materials |
| Industrial-scale natural dyes Plant-, mineral- and seaweed-derived pigments extracted and applied at true industrial dye-house scale — replacing synthetic azo and heavy-metal-mordant dyes … | Fibers & textiles |
| Living concrete & natural resins Living concrete replaces or displaces conventional cement chemistry with biology or bio-based binder systems — the University of Colorado Boulder's Living … | Polymers & materials |
| Nanocellulose barrier coatings for paper Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and nanofiber (CNF) coatings that give paper and fiber-based packaging the oxygen, moisture and grease barrier performance … | Cellulose & lignin |
Opportunities 0
No open tender or grant matched right now.