President’s report

Guy Williams, BCF President and Chief Executive Officer, U-POL

Where to start? I’m sure like everyone reading this publication, the dreadful events of the last few months in Ukraine have made a real impact on our view of what’s important in life, and to keep issues we face on a daily basis in perspective. It made me reflect on the British Coatings Federation’s collaborative work, and how we work together through our industry body to help take on the many challenges we face. Clearly the issues we deal with are not a matter of life or death, but within the context of our sector, they are still important to the continued livelihoods of tens of thousands of employees across the country, and a significant part of the UK economy.

Last year I wrote about the importance of BCF’s work in trying to challenge the UK Government’s approach to UK REACH. To be honest, despite the valiant efforts of the BCF team, member companies writing to local MPs and a strong supply chain alliance all giving the same messages to Defra, the UK Government’s environment department in charge of UK REACH, I didn’t honestly expect us to make any progress.

As most of you will know, there was a change of direction just before Christmas last year, when George Eustace, Secretary of State for the Environment Department wrote to industry to confirm they were planning a re-think, given the level of concern and issues raised by industry on how UK REACH was to work. This will now result in at least a two year delay in the registration deadlines, giving the Department time to discuss with both industry and NGOs on how an alternative UK REACH model might work.

I was invited to join the Oversight Group for the new UK REACH model, in my role as President of the BCF. I was really impressed that from the six representatives from industry on this group, two are from our Federation (Tom and myself). Given there are 15 trade associations in the chemicals supply chain, it shows once again how the BCF is punching above its weight, and I am proud to be representing the voice of formulators using chemical products in this important forum. Tom is also the current chair of the Alliance of Chemical Associations and therefore also representing the wider trade association network in the process.

We wait to see the outcome of the UK REACH review, but it is very encouraging that they are re-considering their approach. It is also hugely important, as what industry needs right now is certainty. We have been battered over the last two and a half years and it feels like in crisis management mode the whole time, with Brexit, Covid and the raw material crisis taking turns in disrupting our businesses. We need Government to create a pragmatic regulatory environment, combined with a long term energy policy that allows us to trade equally with the EU, which isn’t the case at the moment. Without these two pillars, investment will remain muted, and we will not stimulate growth in either UK manufacturing or UK exports. The other major topic the BCF are spearheading is sustainability. As a Board of Directors, we made a pledge back in October 2021 to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and work has started on the BCF’s Roadmap to Net Zero for the sector. For SME members, BCF will help with a toolkit to measure scope 1 and 2 impacts, whereas the multi-nationals are coordinating this indivdually at a global level. BCF’s role will also be to help connect the industry with both upstream suppliers and downstream customers in estimating scope 3 impacts. I look forward to continuing to work with the BCF team and members on this important ambition.

As part of our 2050 pledge, we want to make progress with PaintCare – the scheme that will deliver our ambitious target of achieving growth from 2% today to 75% of leftover decorative paint being re-used, recycled or re-manufactured by 2030.

In my view, the BCF is going from strength to strength, showing its worth in achieving tangible successes with its lobbying (I also could have referenced the significant success with the Home Office on GBL/BDO for our printing ink members recently, as well as UK REACH). We are in a strong place financially, have a great team and membership retention has been outstanding – which is a great foundation to keep the momentum going in supporting the industry through turbulent times.