(R)EVOLUTION - Water-based paint – Towards cleaner bodywork

Water-based paint – Towards cleaner bodywork

In the early 1990s, the automotive industry was faced with a new requirement: to reduce its environmental impact. Until then, the paints used to coat car bodies were based on highly volatile organic solvents. These compounds, which evaporated during drying, contributed significantly to air pollution and also posed health problems for factory operators. Driven by new environmental regulations, the entire sector had to reinvent its processes.

It was in this context that the BASF Group, a pioneer in the field, developed a novel formulation: water-based paint, using water as the main solvent. This innovation represented a real breakthrough. By replacing most of the organic solvents with water, it drastically reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while maintaining the quality and durability of the coating. Contrary to initial fears, these paints offered shine and resistance comparable to traditional formulations, demonstrating that performance and ecology could go hand in hand.

The success of this breakthrough quickly prompted other major players in the sector to follow suit. PPG Industries and AkzoNobel in turn developed water-based solutions, supporting car manufacturers in the modernisation of their production lines. Within a few years, factories were equipped with booths adapted to this new process, and water-based paint became the norm in many markets.

In addition to reducing pollutant emissions, this technology also helped improve working conditions in workshops by reducing employees’ exposure to harmful solvents. It perfectly illustrates how regulatory constraints can stimulate innovation and lead to profound transformation within an industry.

Today, water-based paint has become an ecological standard, particularly in Europe and North America, where environmental standards are among the strictest. It represents a major step in the transition to more environmentally friendly cars, while reminding us that every detail – even the colour of a car’s bodywork – can contribute to reducing its ecological footprint.