Resistance is not futile

It is good news that the general validity of the ChromVI authorization requirement for electroplating has been successfully challenged: A court recently concluded that the ChromVI application of a plaintiff company is not subject to authorization. A remarkable judgment.

However, the upcoming PFAS ban and the regulations on microplastics are also of concern to companies and were the subject of the VDL's 30th coatings meeting. The industry is ready to face up to the challenges and do all it can to protect the environment. However, in many cases, the bans proposed by Brussels for the German industrial landscape appear to be neither technically feasible nor economically viable. A consensus of the discussion during the event was that differentiation rather than generalization is necessary. After all, not all PFAS are the same and it is absurd to assess functional, non-persistent substances with the same standards as long-lasting environmental toxins. This does not protect the environment, but mainly acts as a brake on technology.

The upcoming regulations on microplastics are also an example of an avalanche of red tape with dubious effectiveness at best. The reporting and information obligations for companies that process “synthetic polymer microparticles” are certainly tough - even if these are later firmly embedded in coatings.

For small and medium-sized companies in particular, any further regulation from Brussels represents an existential tour de force. It is particularly frustrating that the originators of the bureaucratic burdens show no interest in thoroughly examining what practicable and economical substitution options the companies actually have. The harmony of sustainability, innovation and economic efficiency so often cited in Brussels thus remains a cliché.

Let facts speak for themselves

There are plenty of examples that show that progress, safety and sustainability can be achieved together. We also present corresponding applications in this issue. For example, with the cover story on the aviation industry - an industry that traditionally places the highest demands on quality and traceability and is now increasingly relying on automated systems, even for small quantities (page 10 in the June issue of mo). The large-scale laser structuring of surfaces is also very promising, enabling physical functionalization without chemical additives (page 23 in the June issue of mo).

However, the ability of companies to achieve such progress is increasingly threatened by a regulatory superstructure that not only ties up capacities but also slows them down due to impractical requirements.

There are signs of a lasting loss of trust between industry and the authorities. Many companies feel ignored and a constructive dialog at eye level has been lost. One participant at the Lacktreff put it bluntly: “We are experiencing a wave of regulation without a realistic implementation strategy!”

Most companies have now internalized that sustainability is not an option, but a necessity. What is missing is a regulatory framework that accompanies this path - instead of blocking it with blanket requirements.

If the authorities are not willing to engage in dialog, all democratic means must be exhausted - through proactive public relations work and also court proceedings. The example of the ChromVI user who filed a lawsuit shows this: Courts are perfectly capable of taking the facts into account and do not necessarily share a legal opinion as implied by the Brussels doctrine.

With this in mind: Don't put up with anything!