MARKET CLOSE UP
SPECIAL ISSUE ON ACE & OFF ROAD VEHICLES
Environmental Awareness and Open Legislation as the Drivers of the Coating Industry’s Recovery Interview with André Vieira de Castro, Chairman of the Board of CEPE, the European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink, and Artists’ Colours Industry
The coatings’ industry is always
800 member companies – of which many are
an effervescent market. Could you
small and medium sized companies – employ
give us an overview of its pre and
approximately 100,000 direct employees.
post- pandemic situation?
As their voice to the European Union, we
As every other sector of the economy, the
discuss with all stakeholders to improve the
coatings’ industry was impacted by the
framework conditions in Europe. We support
COVID-19 pandemic, but it is still too early
policymaking based on science that leads to a
to provide a detailed overview, as most
more competitive, healthier, and sustainable
countries are still or back in some kind of ‘crisis
future.
mode’. If a solution can be found rapidly to
CEPE relies on a valuable network of national
the current increase in prices and shortages
associations and direct member companies
of raw materials it should hopefully only
across Europe. Represented by the Board – of
temporarily affect our business. The impact of
which I am the Chairman – and administered
the pandemic in 2020 was less negative than
by the Operational Board, the major work is
originally feared.
accomplished in over 40 working groups that
he challenges currently facing the coating
On the positive side, the deco sector
monitor relevant issues, analyse, and develop
industry are varied and of different natures:
“boomed” in several countries especially in
recommendations to deliver “one message”.
from the current raw material issues to
those countries where DIY-stores remained
By operating at the European level, we engage
the recent question posed by new regulations
opened. The sector of the artists’ colours
with decision-makers regarding the latest EU
on hazardous chemicals and the green and
also encountered very good results at the
strategies and their implementation, all of
digital transformation that is involving the entire
start of the pandemic. On the negative side,
which are currently paving the way for a green
manufacturing industry, there are many issues
the industrial sector, in particular the vehicle
and digital transformation of the European
on the agenda of paint manufacturers. CEPE,
refinishing field, saw sales decline. Printing inks
economy. With a strong commitment to
European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink, and
were also on the decline with results in 2020
sustainability (e.g. promotion of the product
Artists’ Colours Industry, a reference point for
lower than in 2019. Q2 was the quarter most
environmental footprint), we have several
European companies, conveys all these demands
badly affected due to the restrictions put in
key topics among which there are the future
and advocates the interests of the sector to
place by European governments.
availability of preservatives, microplastics,
© CEPE
André Vieira de Castro.
T
food contact materials, and many other
institutions committed to providing tools for recovery and to regulatory bodies focused on
How does your Association position itself
topics. For more information, please visit our
the need to reduce the environmental impact
in relation to the current market?
website: cepe.org.
of production processes and the waste they
The European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink,
generate. We talked about this with André Vieira
and Artist’s Colours Industry (CEPE) represents
What are the sector’s current priorities,
de Castro, the Chairman of the Board of CEPE,
the interests of Paint, Printing Ink, and Artist’s
in general and in terms of legislation in
who transparently analysed the priorities of our
Colours manufacturers in Europe. As such,
particular?
industry as well as the association’s upcoming
CEPE combines the interests of over 80% of
The EU political agenda is dominated by the
commitments.
the value of the respective markets. The about
new growth strategy, also referred to as the
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N. 68 - MARCH/APRIL 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine