Tom Bowtell, British Coatings Federation CEO08.18.15
Recently, a European Commission survey released results confirming what we have been saying about REACH – that it stifles innovation in the coatings and printing ink industries.
Members of the British Coatings Federation invest massive amounts of R&D spend on defensive innovation to comply with regulations, rather than creating new applications or functionality for coatings and inks. An estimated €2 billion has already been spent by the chemicals industry in order to comply with REACH.
The survey, conducted by the European Commission, sampled 1,600 companies, with 35% responding that REACH is negatively affecting their capacity to innovate. Only 10% indicated a positive impact of REACH. The study’s full results are expected in the autumn, but the Commission’s industry directorate DG Grow’s deputy director general Antti Peltomaki, is obviously concerned.
Substituting substances on the authorisation list, he said, is not innovation, according to
Continue reading this story and get 24/7 access to Covering the Printing Inks, Coatings and Allied Industries - Ink World for FREE
Ink World magazine has tracked the growth of the ink industry and its allied industries through years of changes, technology, evolution, consolidation and market development. No other magazine has been around for as long or covered as much of the global printing ink business. This website is dedicated to providing in-depth industry coverage and late-breaking news.
FREE SUBSCRIPTION
