International Pollutants Elimination Network

QUEZON CITY —  Seven more brands of paints and coatings, mostly used for automotive and industrial applications, manufactured in the Philippines have successfully passed the third-party Lead Safe Paint® Certification, confirming compliance with the strictest regulatory limit for lead content in paints and similar surface coatings.

SCS conducted an independent assessment on behalf of Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc. for USA, Trend, Trans-Lac, Texas, PolyGloss, Paralux and Glasurit paint products and found them in conformity with the regulatory limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) for lead in paint on a dry weight basis.  This will bring to 11 the number of its duly certified products, including Alpha Chroma, Arkhon, Rain or Shine, and Welcoat paints.

The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN, the certification owner) and the SCS Global Services (SCS), the certification body) made the announcement that was warmly welcomed by their local partner, the EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for a zero waste and toxics-free society.

“SCS is really excited to see more brands obtain Lead Safe Paint® Certification. We take pride in helping manufacturers provide paints below 90ppm of lead content, the most stringent international standards currently available. SCS uses a science-based approach to our assessments, allowing consumers to make educated choices that affect the health of family, friends, and other loved ones,” said Rob Emelander, program manager, SCS, a pioneer and leader in the field of sustainability standards and third-party certification.

“Asian Coatings graciously accepts the Lead Safe Paint® Certification for our automotive and industrial paints. This milestone brings our company full circle, as we trace our roots to the vibrant automotive coatings market of the 1970’s. We extend our sincere appreciation to the EcoWaste Coalition for facilitating this important initiative toward environmental sustainability. The Lead Safe mark stands as a testament to the continued trust of our dealers and end-users, and affirms our commitment to producing safer, more responsible products,” stated Redmond Yu, assistant vice president for sales and marketing, Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc., a member of the Philippine Paint & Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI), which advocates for lead-safe paint manufacturing and supports voluntary Lead Safe Paint® certification.

“Amidst growing consumer demand for safer paint products, we laud Asian Coatings once again for their efforts to eliminate lead in paints by subjecting seven more paint brands, mostly industrial paints, to a third-party Lead Safe Paint® Certification. These steps undertaken by Asian Coatings will not only help Filipino consumers in making informed choices when buying paints, they will also serve as proof of the company’s compliance with existing lead paint laws in the country,” stated Jeiel Guarino, global lead paint elimination campaigner, IPEN.

“We congratulate Asian Coatings for replacing lead-based ingredients used as pigments, driers, or as anti-corrosive agents in the manufacture of decorative, automotive, and industrial paints, and for having this confirmed through unbiased and trustworthy third-party certification,” said Manny Calonzo, campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.  “Certified lead-safe paints will not pose lead-based paint hazards, especially for workers, women of childbearing age, and children, who are highly vulnerable to the harmful effects of exposure even at low levels, particularly when the paint has deteriorated and scattered contaminated chips or dust, which can be ingested and inhaled.”

IPEN, EcoWaste Coalition, and other civil society groups advocating for a toxics-free future seek the removal of lead in paints for all types of applications, including those used to paint cars, street markings, ships, bridges, steel structures, and others.

Eliminating the use of lead-based raw materials in the production of all paints will protect workers who are exposed to lead in the manufacture of leaded paints used for decorative and industrial purposes, and in the actual application and removal of such paints.

Automotive paints containing lead can be a source of exposure to children and other community members, as small and informal businesses engaged in car repainting and repair are situated in residential areas, especially in low- and middle-income countries like the Philippines.