FEATURE: DECORATING & WALLCOVERINGS


PAINTING A NEW FUTURE: UK PAINT BRANDS PILOT GROUNDBREAKING LEFTOVER


PAINT RETURN SCHEME For too long, millions of litres of leftover paint have been left sitting unused in sheds and garages across the UK, primarily because, for the majority of the UK population, there has been no simple, accessible way to reuse or recycle it responsibly. At the same time, consumer and trade demand for practical, effective sustainability solutions has never been higher. People want to do the right thing, but they need systems that make it easy. Now, leading UK paint manufacturers and retailers are coming together to trial a new, industry- led solution designed to fundamentally improve what happens to paint at the end of its life.


P


aintCare UK, a voluntary, industry- funded take-back scheme run by the British Coatings Federation (BCF) on


behalf of UK paint manufacturers, will be trialled in the West Midlands Combined


Authority area from


March 2026. The pilot will allow consumers and tradespeople to return leftover decorative paint and empty packaging to selected participating retailers, helping to unlock reuse and recycling at scale. The PaintCare pilot brings together major paint brands - Dulux, Johnstone’s Paint, Crown Paints, Craig & Rose, Valspar and Little Greene - working in collaboration with retail partners including B&Q, Brewers Decorator Centres, Dulux Decorator Centres and Johnstone’s Decorating Centres. Together, they aim to test a practical, scalable model that could help transform the paint


Above: Photograph of a PaintCare recycling station inside a hardware store, designed for collecting leftover paint and empty cans.


category towards a more circular, sustainable future. The time-limited regional pilot will


run for approximately three months and is designed to test and evaluate: • Consumer participation and convenience • In-store collection models • Logistics and treatment solutions • Opportunities for paint reuse and packaging recycling


PaintCare is working with waste


and recycling partner Biffa to manage the safe collection, transport and treatment of returned paint and packaging. Around £0.5 million has been invested in the trial, underlining the paint industry’s commitment to delivering real, system-level change rather than incremental fixes. Clear PaintCare return areas will be signposted in participating stores. Paint and empty packaging must be handed directly to a member of staff. Details of accepted paint types and conditions are available in store and at www.paintcare.org.uk. Collections began in February with a phased introduction across participating stores through March 2026. PaintCare intends to use the lessons learned from the trial to inform a planned national rollout in mid-2027.


Independent modelling undertaken by sustainability consultancy Resource Futures indicates that,


WELCOME TO THE FUN HAUS FROM VICTORY COLOURS


Defined by extensive use of colour and big top-inspired stripes, Fun Haus is set to be one of the most expressive trends of 2026 and Victory Colours has the perfect striped wallpaper from independent wallpaper brand Ohpopsi, for those homeowners who want to go all out. Victoria Yardley, Founder of Victory Colours, says: “The Fun Haus look is all about bringing personality into the home, and striped wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to do it. What makes stripes so effective is that they feel joyful without tipping


18 DIY WEEK APRIL 2026


into chaos.” Ohpopsi’s Bloc Stripe is defined by chunky lines and gives a room a design-led feel, while Ohpopsi’s Multi Stripe introduces several tones at once, which creates movement, warmth and a more layered look. Yardley says: “Bloc Stripe is a brilliant choice for anyone who wants their interiors to feel more expressive, uplifting and a little more exciting, while Multi Stripe works beautifully by mixing colour with a sense of fun in a way that still feels stylish and liveable.” Fun Haus was named by Pinterest


as one of the rising trends of 2026 and is all about bringing personality into the home through bold detailing and bright colours. Yardley adds: “Striped wallpaper works especially well on a feature wall, in hallways, cloakrooms or anywhere that could benefit from a bit of character. Pair it with complementary paint shades, curved furniture and playful accessories, and you can achieve that upbeat, trend-led look without needing to completely redecorate.”


Bloc Stripe is available in four


when fully operational, PaintCare has the potential to deliver significant environmental and social benefits. Based on current assumptions, the scheme is expected to reduce carbon emissions associated with the take- back and treatment of leftover paint by around 50% compared to current disposal routes, while also supporting job creation and volunteering opportunities across the reuse and recycling system. Further details on the methodology and assumptions will be shared as the scheme develops. The trial represents an important step towards a long-term ambition to reuse or recycle 75% of leftover paint by 2032, compared with an estimated 2% today, and to significantly improve the recycling of paint packaging across the UK.


BCF and PaintCare will work closely with government and relevant agencies throughout the trial, sharing insights on what works well and where regulatory or practical barriers may need to be addressed to enable a viable national scheme.


Commenting on the launch, Tom Bowtell, CEO of the British Coatings Federation, said: “For too long, it has been too difficult for people to do the right thing with leftover paint. This trial marks a major step forward - not just for our industry, but for consumers and tradespeople who want simple, practical ways to reduce waste.


“What makes PaintCare particularly powerful is the level of collaboration across brands and retailers. By working together, we can test solutions at a scale that would not be possible individually and use real evidence from this trial to help shape a system that works nationally.”


colourways: Midnight, Laurel, Porcelain and Chalk, while Multi Stripe is available in Amber Mix, Linen, Pistachio Mix, Putty Mix, Slate Mix, Turquoise and Wild Water. Victory Colours offers both wallpaper collections alongside coordinating eco paints, making it easier to build the look across a whole scheme.


www.diyweek.net


Photo: B&Q/Ian Tuttle Photography


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