28 | Sector Focus: Coatings & Finishes
SUMMARY
■ The sector is still waiting for updates on UK REACH
■ Revisions to EU REACH were put back to this year
■ The UK coatings sector contributes around £1bn a year to the UK balance of trade
■ The BCF will launch a new version of its Net Zero Roadmap at its 2026 Net Zero Seminar in Liverpool
COVERING COATINGS
David Park, public affairs manager at the British Coatings Federation, spoke to TTJ about the challenges and opportunities ahead for wood coatings manufacturers
Above: The UK continues to be a net exporter of coatings PHOTO: SIKKENS
TTJ: This time last year you said you had updated your coatings manifesto to take account of the new government’s policies and actions – can you recap on what it covers and have there been any amendment since then? David Park: The five broad areas of our manifesto remain the same, although we have tweaked them slightly where government has signalled a way forward, for example with the publication of its Industrial Strategy. The five areas are: A clear, consistent and proportionate regulatory environment for chemicals; an industrial strategy that
TTJ | Spring 2026 |
www.ttjonline.com
recognises the need for coatings in essential sectors; support for businesses making the transition to a greener model; a long-term focus on skills and training; and improving post-Brexit trade. TTJ: Have any of the new policies announced by the government last year actually come to fruition as far as the coatings sector is concerned? DP: The government’s talks with the EU back in May did not lead to the reset in terms of chemicals policy in the way which we, and they, had hoped. However, the result was a change in tone and future talks may
result in something more concrete. Indeed, the UK government has since published its Environmental Impact Plan, which includes a direction of travel for chemicals policy that references a move to unilaterally align more closely with ‘our closest trading partners’ except for where there is a clear need to diverge. TTJ: The BCF fed into the consultation process of the government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper – what, if any, impact have you seen on the coatings sector? DP: Coatings are important for each and every one of the ‘IS8’ sectors identified by
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