The decorating industry has seen a major shift in buying behaviour, with sales of water-based paint representing a quarter of the interior trim trade market in 2019.
The latest market data reflects a growing move away from solvent-based products towards more sustainable alternatives that get the job done faster.
This 12 per cent increase from 2018 is indicative of the significant improvement of the quality of water-based products like those in the Dulux Trade Diamond range, as well as increased environmental concern. Architects, contractors and their clients are increasingly looking for a solution that reduces the longer-term impact of their work on the world around us.
Products like Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood, the hero of the Dulux Trade water-based trim range, are the result of years of research and development, offering quick drying, lower odour options, that give the same durability and professional quality finish as solvent-based paints.
An increasing number of specifiers have made the switch to specifying these water-based paints to help comply with Green Building Standards such as BREEAM, LEED and The Well Building Standard.
Paul Murgett, Sustainability Manager at AkzoNobel, says: “Now, more than ever, the topic of sustainability and considerations around the environmental impact of what we buy, eat, use and sell are under immense scrutiny. Across every industry, people are looking for more environmentally responsible alternatives and the decorating sector is no different.
“Architects, contractors and professional decorators are all keen to opt for a more environmentally friendly solution that won’t impact on their time or bottom line. At Dulux Trade, we’ve invested substantially in research and development to ensure we can provide high quality and sustainable solutions that meet the changing needs of our customers.
Paul adds: “The market data tells us that the needle is starting to move when it comes to encouraging the industry to make the switch to water-based products.
“This increased awareness is now being reflected in sales, as professionals recognise the quality offering available, and we would encourage more people to try water-based paints to see the difference on their projects.”
