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BCF Annual Conference 2022
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Sustainability and the state of the economy took centre stage at BCF Annual Conference
Over 150 senior decision-makers from the UK’s paints, coatings and printing ink sectors gathered at The Belfry in May for the annual British Coatings Federation Annual Conference.
Graeme Chaplin, Bank of England
BCF President Guy Williams commented:
“The topics of this year’s conference were highly appropriate for the challenges the industry is facing today – really tough economic conditions but a huge focus on sustainability, with paint recycling and Net Zero being key themes for the future of BCF’s work, as well as working with the UK Government to improve the regulatory landscape”.
Sustainability in Practice panellists discussing paint recycling and packaging Extended Producer Responsibility
The opening keynote from the UK Government’s Business Department (BEIS) highlighted the government’s growth drivers and Net Zero ambitions for energy, chemicals and coatings.
The Bank of England outlined the latest economic forecasts for the UK – the economy will be stagnant for the next four years with inflation peaking at 10% this autumn. The Conference also heard from DIY expert Steve Collinge, who gave an overview of how the sector is navigating the post-Covid economic climate. Steve explained that while confidence is very low, given the cost-of-living crisis, the public does have significant savings accumulated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Decorative paint demand peaked 30% above pre-Covid levels but is now tracking below pre-Covid demand.
On sustainability, the conference heard about the first global coatings industry’s sustainability report, to be published later this year by the World Coatings Council. The session outlined the definition of sustainability and the roadmap for the World Coatings Council before delving into the report itself, which showed how the sector was currently working towards meeting the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals and the challenges that lie ahead.
MAKE UK then outlined the vision for achieving Net Zero in the manufacturing sector. The impact of COP26 was discussed before exploring the commitments currently being made by the UK manufacturing sector, the barriers to achieving this and opportunities to succeed.
Keynote speaker Claire Lomas MBE telling her inspirational story The audience were entertained during the evening by awardwinning comedian Barbara Nice
This was followed by an intense panel discussion on leftover paint recycling and Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), featuring paint recyclers, metal and plastic packaging suppliers and experts on packaging and waste policy. The panel answered many of the audience’s questions surrounding the challenges and opportunities for paint recycling, and markets for leftover paint. On Packaging EPR, brand owners are faced with a new regime from 2024 which will move the cost of household waste collection and processing to brand owners. BCF’s ambition to increase the percentage leftover paint re-used, recycled, or re-manufactured from 2% today to 75% by 2030 was articulated by BCF PaintCare Consultant Dr Steve Snaith. The panel included paint recyclers (Cat Hyde, Seagulls; Lee Cole, Paint 360; Martin Pearse, Community RePaint), packaging sector (plastics - Mike Baxter, Berry; metal - Robert Fell, MPMA), and EPR specialist consultants (Lee Wearing, Valpak; Phil Conran, 360 Environmental).
The keynote speaker Claire Lomas MBE, told her inspiring story of recovering from a horseriding accident in 2007, which left her paralysed from the chest down. Determined not to give up, she made worldwide headlines in 2012 when completing the London Marathon in a pioneering robotic suit taking 17 days and lit the Paralympic cauldron for London 2012. Her positive spirit, raw honesty and zest for life made a huge impact on all present. The Conference closed with BCF CEO, Tom Bowtell, taking to the stage to outline BCF’s highlights of the last year, and the challenges facing the sector.
The evening dinner raised over £3,000 for the event’s charity partner, Community Heartbeat Trust, which has installed over 700 lifesaving defibrillator stations in red phone boxes across the UK, with paint provided by BCF member companies. The evening was closed with captivating entertainment from comedian Barbara Nice.
Guy Williams closed the Conference by thanking lead sponsor Microban, and our other sponsors Fenton Packaging, LKAB, Stort Chemicals and Verlingue for their generous support.
