Sustainable finishing solutions: A paradigm shift
Most metal products used in building and architecture require some type of finish. In the US, the majority of the finishes specified are toxic, hazardous, and non-sustainable. Solvent-based paint with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), galvanizing with zinc and lead, and anodizing with chrome and acid are the current paradigm of today’s architects.
Less than 25 percent of all architectural finishes applied in the US are environmentally friendly and sustainable powder coatings. More than 75 percent are hazardous. In Europe, the percentages are completely reversed. Why?