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INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY 061“ BEYOND TRADITIONAL COATINGS, ZERO-VOC POWDER COATINGS FOR EXTERIOR FAÇADES CAN LAST FOR 20 YEARS OR MORE ”REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINTReducing the environmental footprint of our coatings is a clear focus of our research programmes. We are striving to increase the use of renewable materials and optimise our use of lower carbon footprint raw materials. Another significant way to reduce footprint is through increasing the durability of exterior wall paints. Enabling longer maintenance and repainting cycles helps to reduce building maintenance costs and environmental impact. This is achieved by lowering the use of resources for the paint itself (which will last longer), as well as reducing water use due to less need for cleaning.Both climate and human activities alter the appearance of building façades through UV-driven colour fading, erosion, cracking, flaking, dirt and dust pick-up, fungal and algal growth. In tropical urban environments in particular, most exterior wall paints currently last around five to eight years. We are developing solutions to extend this durability to ten years and beyond. Our research programmes are focused on developing new polymer technologies to best balance weatherability and flexibility to create products with a longer durability than standard products used on building façades. In combination with durable pigments that do not fade under strong UV, and smart formulation modelling, we can deliver extended repainting cycles. Beyond traditional coatings, zero-VOC powder coatings for exterior façades can last for 20 years or more.DELIVER ENERGY EFFICIENT SOLUTIONSCities also experience the “urban heat island effect”, especially those cities that are subject to temperatures of 35°C and above throughout the year. This results in growing energy consumption, which is needed to cool down buildings. What many people are unaware of, however, is the fact