International. Beckers Group, a coatings supplier, launches an enhanced version of its Beckers Sustainability Index (BSI). In doing so, Beckers wants to set a new standard for sustainability that can help transform the industry.
Beckers' ambition with the relaunch of BSI is to raise the bar for sustainability in the coatings industry. Until now, the indices used in the industry have either concentrated on specific aspects, such as raw materials and chemicals, or have been designed for use in other industries such as construction.
At BSI, Beckers Group has incorporated the current indices into a tailor-made index that will help the industry develop more sustainable products specifically for the coatings industry.
"We wondered how we could take a more holistic approach to the sustainability of coil coatings that goes beyond the carbon footprint. Our answer, the Beckers Sustainability Index, uses existing indices, but is designed specifically for coatings, including how they add value when applied to a surface," said Gavin Bown, chief technology officer at Beckers Group.
With the Beckers Sustainability Index (BSI), Beckers now hopes to bring more transparency and breadth to the coatings industry's sustainability efforts. The index, which recently underwent a thorough audit and validation process by a third-party audit firm and has been used at Beckers Group since 2016, helps stakeholders track the sustainability performance of coating products.
BSI was originally developed by Beckers to measure progress towards its own ambitious sustainability goals and to address customer questions about various sustainability aspects of its products. With access to the BSI, stakeholders can assess each product's performance in terms of sustainability, including life cycle analysis and carbon footprint, down to the formulation level.
"The Beckers Sustainability Index can be used as a tool to accelerate the development of more sustainable coatings. The index has been and continues to be very important for us to realise our own sustainability ambitions and further develop our product portfolio. In the future, we hope it will also help others take meaningful steps towards a more sustainable future," continues Gavin Bown.
