Despite various environmental initiatives within the painting industry to help recycle plastic and metal paint packaging, a high percentage of plastic waste is still incinerated rather than recycled – this process also causes problems, releasing dangerous greenhouse gases.
Environmental activist group, Greenpeace UK, estimates that incinerating a single tonne of plastic releases over two tonnes of harmful CO2 into the atmosphere.
It’s clear that another solution is needed – and fast! Ahead of Earth Day on 22nd April, we speak to Ben Featherstone, Sustainability Coordinator at Bagnalls, about how the national painting and decorating contractor is taking accountability for its environmental impact.
Why is The PDA’s Paint Green such an important initiative?
“Any business can have an impact on sustainability, no matter how big or small,” Ben explains. “The Painting and Decorating Association (PDA) – our painting industry trade body – is encouraging everyone to be more sustainable and increase recycling rates.
The PDA’s Paint Green initiative allows potential customers to find a painting and decorating company that cares about the environment and is actively trying to reduce waste.
“Bagnalls signed the Paint Green Pledge to help our colleagues focus on recycling and reassure our customers that we are developing sustainable practices. We hope that our actions encourage others to sign up as well.
“The scheme is important because it holds all companies that have signed the pledge to account with the need for annual reporting. These reports encourage more action and ensure that businesses keep sustainability front and centre in their everyday practice.
“It has become a habit now for our painters to clean out their empty paint tins, stack them up and send them out to the recycling point – it’s part of their normal, day-to-day procedure.”
Are there any recent sustainability updates that you wish more businesses were aware of?
“All the paint recycling schemes that are currently out there – some of which are provided by paint manufacturers and other initiatives, such as Community RePaint.
“Only 2% of leftover paint is recycled. There’s a target for the industry to increase this to 75% by 2030 – this is an ambitious target, so will require a lot more companies to be aware of their recycling options.
“The industry also needs to provide better opportunities for companies to deal with paint once it’s reached the end of its life and cannot be donated. This is why leading bodies within the painting industry, such as the British Coatings Federation (BCF) and The PDA, are working together to provide solutions.
“For instance, the BCF’s PaintCare return scheme allows companies to recycle their leftover paint with the support of the paint manufacturers, creating a circular economy.”
How is Bagnalls ensuring that sustainability remains front and centre?
“Sustainability and longevity are key parts of our strategy as a family business. Bagnalls recently celebrated its 150th company anniversary, so we’re not afraid of thinking long-term and looking at the bigger picture.
“Bagnalls regularly updates our commercial fleet to the newest and most efficient vans available and performs energy audits at all branches to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. We are now utilising technology to better understand our Scope 3 emissions, which – as for many companies – make up the largest percentage of our total carbon footprint.
“In addressing our Scope 3 emissions, we are working with our leading suppliers – most notably our paint manufacturers – to consider alternative paint products that offer environmental benefits, while maintaining quality and performance expectations.
“We can therefore ensure, where possible, that we offer a sustainable alternative that allows our customers to make a more informed choice.”
Which sustainability achievements are you most proud of at Bagnalls?
“Providing sustainability credentials to customers is becoming increasingly important and I am proud to say that Bagnalls has reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 10% since 2022. This shows that the initiatives we are implementing are clearly working.
“However, the achievement I’m most proud of has to be our Community Paintbrush scheme. It was started in 2012 by our Group Marketing Director, Joanne Gualda, as a way to redistribute surplus paint to local community projects.
“In 2024, we completed over 80 different Community Paintbrush projects, providing paint donations, charitable support and volunteering.”
“When it comes to environmental impact, we are taking accountability as a business. It is our hope that the painting and decorating industry will become a truly sustainable sector in the years to come, completing quality projects in a way that also protects our planet.”
