Consistent with Jotun's environmental initiative, Jotun GreenSteps, the company has announced plans to phase out lead chromates, a toxic chemical compound from all paint and coatings formulations worldwide.
Jotun is scheduled to phase out lead chromates in 2014. In doing so, Jotun will not only apply with new EU REACH regulations, but also take a global position when Lead Chromates are phased out from all formulations for all product categories.
However, Jotun's Project Manager Jens Christoffer Markmanrud notes that lead chromates are still legal in many markets where the company is active: "This global phase out applies to paints and coatings in all segments, worldwide," he says.
"It is a big step, but we are confident that by substituting lead chromates with safer, high performing alternatives, we can make a big difference."
The phase out is consistent with Jotun GreenSteps, a programme launched by the company in 2011 to improve Jotun's environmental performance over a broad range of areas, including hazardous materials, carbon footprint, reducing volatile organic compound emissions (VOCs), energy consumption and waste.
"GreenSteps also broadcasts the work the company does to develop safer, more effective paints and coatings solutions that help customers improve their environmental performance," says Markmanrud.
In addition to investing more resources to produce safer, more environmentally responsible paints and coatings, Jotun is exploring new ways of managing pigments and colours to achieve better results. By combining primer colours and topcoat colours, Jotun can offer a "superior finish compared to less advanced alternatives".
The global phase out of lead chromates is "an important step in strengthening Jotun's reputation as an environmentally responsible company," the company concluded.