The British Coatings Federation (BCF) has launched the 2026 edition of its Roadmap to Net Zero, unveiling a strengthened evidence base, revised emissions trajectory, and an urgent call to action for government and industry.

Since publishing the first roadmap in 2023, BCF has expanded and refined its emissions dataset. Enhanced industry participation and improved historical submissions have resulted in a more accurate 2018 baseline for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, rising from approximately 100,000 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) to 110,000tCO2e. With revised data applied across subsequent years, the dataset now provides a more reliable foundation for tracking future progress and modelling long-term decarbonisation pathways.

This improved baseline confirms the sector’s strong trajectory: by 2024, Scope 1 and 2 emissions had fallen to 55,000tCO2e, representing a 50% reduction from the updated baseline. This surpasses the roadmap’s own projection for 2030, which anticipated a 38% reduction based on earlier modelling.

BCF’s latest analysis highlights significant early wins, driven by efficiency gains, operational optimisation and widespread uptake of relatively accessible decarbonisation measures. However, the roadmap is clear: much of the “low-hanging fruit” has now been delivered.

To maintain momentum, the sector must embrace deeper, more complex interventions, particularly around Scope 3 emissions, which continue to represent approximately 97% of the industry's total footprint.

The Roadmap includes a renewed, urgent set of policy recommendations to government to ensure the coatings industry can deliver on its Net Zero commitments.

Key requests include:

  • Long-term policy stability to unlock industrial investment.
  • A new Industrial Decarbonisation Capital Support Mechanism to replace the closed Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF).
  • Green capital allowances to incentivise low-carbon technology upgrades.
  • A “Help to Grow: Net Zero” scheme to support SMEs with Scope 3 measurement and transition planning.
  • Accelerated access to hydrogen, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage and modular nuclear technologies for industry.
  • Expanded green skills and workforce training pathways to equip employees for the transition ahead.
  • A proportionate, functional UK REACH system that supports sustainable materials innovation without imposing prohibitive costs.

These measures, BCF stresses, are essential to ensure UK manufacturers remain competitive and can continue investing in the transformation required.

The 2026 Roadmap also outlines a strengthened action plan for companies across the coatings, printing inks, and wallcoverings sector. BCF emphasises that success will require commitment not only within manufacturing sites but across the full value chain: suppliers, customers, logistics partners, waste and recycling systems, and beyond.

With early delivery already exceeding expectations and a strengthened baseline underpinning future decisions, BCF feels the UK coatings industry is well-positioned to continue its Net Zero journey. The 2026 Roadmap sets out revised milestones; 62% emissions reduction by 2030, 71% by 2035 and 81% by 2040, and provides practical guidance, collaboration frameworks and clear expectations for both Government and industry.

The BCF convened industry leaders, innovators, and sustainability specialists to see the launch of the latest iteration of its Net Zero Roadmap for the coatings sector, at its third Road to Net Zero Seminar, held on last week in Liverpool. This year’s event brought together experts from across the coatings and wider chemicals value chain to explore practical, collaborative pathways toward achieving net zero.

The seminar opened with a welcome from Zoe Slade, Sustainability Manager at the BCF, setting the tone for a day focused on ambition, coordination, and resilience.

Session highlights included an examination of sustainable business and changing mindsets to minimise impact, followed by targeted discussions on Scope 3 challenges in purchased goods and services. Industry representatives shared practical experiences of measuring and reducing supply-chain emissions, underscoring the need for deeper partnerships across manufacturers, suppliers, and downstream users.

The afternoon focused on biobased solutions and life-cycle assessment; speakers highlighted opportunities for innovation, barriers to scaling alternatives, and the critical role of data-driven decision-making.

BCF CEO Tom Bowtell commented: “Our industry has made decisive progress, but the next decade will be critical. This Roadmap shows what we have achieved, and what we must now tackle together. With the right policy support and strong collaboration across the value chain, we can deliver a competitive, resilient and sustainable future for the UK coatings industry.”