CMP striving for VOC reduction in marine industry

Low VOC products

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) have been named as one of the causes of air pollution by very small particles (PM 2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns). PM 2.5 results from reactions of VOC in the air under the influence of sunlight. VOC is emitted during the production of paints as well as application process. Paints are mainly used for protection of wood and metal in many sectors such as automotive, building, container and shipbuilding and maintenance. In many markets, low or even zero VOC products are considered to further reduce the environmental footprint and the health and safety impact over the whole life-cycle of paints. CMP now commit to develop high quality products that are significantly less of threat to both the environment and human health than the currently available products.

VOC legislation

In the century of existence, CMP have developed and marketed many products. Increasing quality, decreasing workload and cost for our customers have been the major drivers for a long time. However over the last few decades, health, safety aspects and the environment have become important drivers for new developments as well. UN/IMO, EU and other governments have stipulated environmental and safety rules for many products. VOC legislation has been issued in US and EU. Recently, new VOC regulations have been added in e.g. China and South Korea. Not only VOC emissions have been regulated, but other health and environment related substances containing chromium VI or lead and on certain active substances have been regulated as well. In April 2020, South Korea’s Ministry of Environmental (MoE) has revised the VOC rules under the Clean Air Conservation Act. The usage of solvent-free and water-borne product against solvent-borne products is 10% in 2021 and will be increased up to 60% in 2024.

Future works in marine industry

Oceangoing vessels generally are large structures typically in length between 80m and 400m. These giants are painted in the open air. Temperature in the major construction and maintenance areas such as northern China, northern Europe and the Korean peninsula are in winter often below 10℃ or even below 0℃. For this reason shipyards choose solvent borne paints. Other reasons to choose solvent borne paints are the long overcoating interval in terms of a multi-layer application and process/production cost. As a leading marine coatings supplier, CMP managed a breakthrough in solvent free technologies while maintaining the process related advantages of solvent borne products.

In March 2020, CMP launched BANNOH 5000, solvent-free epoxy universal primer complied with IMO PSPC (Performance Standard for Protective Coatings). Until September 2021, CMP supplied more than 1.2 million liters for 32 oceangoing ships. Comparing to traditional products, it means a saving of 4,258 tons of VOC in a year and a half.

Additionally CMP have supplied more than 1 million liters of ECO SWAN II, a water-borne two component coating with a short curing time aiming fast production process for internal areas such as accommodation room and engine room. For 2021, the total quantity is expected to be more than seven times the amount supplied in 2020.

On 21 October during the Kormarine exhibition in Korea, CMP presented a technical seminar to introduce the solvent-free and the water-borne products. CMP, having confidence in itself as a front runner supplying solvent-free and water-borne products, is penetrating into Korean shipyards. Taking this occasion, CMP is expanding the ‘Low VOC’ products in marine industry worldwide.

CMP was formed in 1917 in Hiroshima Japan, since then it has become acknowledged worldwide for developing and providing innovative marine coatings solutions for oceangoing ships around the world.