The British Coatings Federation has announced the winners of its annual awards at a prestigious ceremony on the 10th November. For the first time, the awards included the BCF Sustainable Innovation Award, which was won by Newlife Paints. AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings and Schloetter Company won the BCF’s Coatings Care Awards and a personal award went to Paul Fisher of R J Stokes and Company for BCF Student of the Year
The paint sector enjoyed particular success with Newlife Paints being the first winner of the BCF Sustainable Innovation Award for the development of its recycled paint business. While the recycling of waste paints and the subsequent avoidance of landfill is not a new idea, the judges were particularly taken with the link that Newlife had made to local council waste collection schemes and recognised the benefits that their process brings to the wider community.
In the same award, Crown Paints was highly commended for its Earthbalance® initiative. Judges praised the way this initiative embraces the whole life cycle of a product, with an emphasis on the carbon footprint as a measure of Sustainability.
AkzoNobel ICI Paints also came highly commended for its “Ecosure range.” This entry was rated for its innovation and for its impact on the supply chain. Judges appreciated the way in which the well-established principle of dry hiding and of proven product technologies had been combined in a novel way to produce a product that has minimal environmental impact.
Akzo Nobel Packaging Coatings, Birmingham, won the Coatings Care Overall Best Performer Award. The judges found the site to be immaculately clean with excellent housekeeping. There was good communication of Coatings Care Indicators of Performance and the site has set a bold target for reductions in waste and energy usage up to 2015.
Further success for the paints industry was achieved with the Coatings Care Progress Award, going to Schloetter Company, Pershore. Judges noted an effective technical sales organisation as well as a great safety record, which has won the Sword of Honour from the British Safety Council twice.
Finally, the BCF Student of the Year Award was won by Paul Fisher of R J Stokes and Company Limited for the results he has achieved in the BCF International Certificate in Coatings Technology. Paul has succeeded in taking 15 courses and has consistently produced written work of exceptionally high quality.
Tony Mash, CEO of the British Coatings Federation commented, “The BCF Awards gives recognition to those manufacturers working towards continuous improvement in order to contribute actively to a sustainable environment. This year’s standard was particularly high and the winners all showed real innovation and commitment to a sustainable future. Next year, the BCF will be expanding its awards programme to provide extra impetus to sustainable change within the UK coatings industry.
The BCF Awards and Networking Dinner took place at the Gateway Hotel, Nottingham. The judging panel for the BCF Sustainable Innovation Awards was led by Professor Adisa Azapagic from the University of Manchester, with Peter Collins of the PRA and Tony Newbould on behalf of the BCF. The BCF Coatings Care Awards were judged by independent consultants Ray Grainger and Peter Morris.
For more information please visit www.coatings.org.uk
