• Who Needs Coatings Care®?
• Comparison to other systems
• Where is Coatings Care® Now?
• Implementation Policy for Participating Associations

Coatings Care® welcomes participation from organizations around the world. Any country that is interested in making the Coatings Care® commitment is encouraged to do so and then reviewed by the Coatings Care® Industry Stewardship Committee. The program is constantly growing and hopes to one day be used by every country that has paint, coatings, and ink industries. This Health, Safety and Environmental Program was created by the industry and for the industry. It is a globally recognized program designed to assist industry companies manage their health, safety, and environmental responsibilities. The program can be used as the industries main system or in addition to other existing systems such as Responsible Care®.

Inspired by the technological advances of highly visible, long-lasting products, that meet customer demand for safety, reliability, and environmental protection, Coatings Care® has been created to provide assurances that the industry conducts itself in a manner that is sustainable and ensures the safe selection, handling, use and disposal of chemical components in paint product. Coatings Care® is the signature program for paint and coatings manufacturers that also emphasizes environmental protection in new product development. The program is the framework for companies to address and successfully manage any health, safety or environmental issues and is currently being implemented in countries throughout the world.

Benefits of Participation:

NPCA Partners with EPA

NPCA is a Performance Track Network Partner in U.S. EPA's National Environmental Performance Track Program (Performance Track), a voluntary EPA program that recognizes and rewards top environmental performers. In 2001, NPCA submitted a "letter of intent" to EPA, stating NPCA's support for the programs goals and a commitment to encouraging our members to pursue the program.

The Performance Track program recognizes and rewards top environmental performers that go beyond minimum requirements. Performance Track facilities receive national recognition from EPA, and are able to use of the Performance Track logo on company literature, are highlighted and gain visibility at national and local events set up by EPA, and are given positive references in EPA publications and websites. Facilities receive incentives to participate in Performance Track, including streamlined administrative procedures, low priority for inspections, reduced reporting and record keeping requirements, and increased regulatory flexibility. Facilities are deemed eligible if they have in-place an Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and have made a commitment to environmental improvement and community outreach, and can demonstrate a history of regulatory compliance.

As a Trade Association Performance Track Network Partner, NPCA and its Coatings Care® program are recognized by EPA as offering an EMS that conforms to the Performance Track criteria. In order to gain EPA’s nod, NPCA submitted the Coatings Care® Manufacturing Management Implementation Guides to EPA for review and approval of the Coatings Care® EMS. EPA’s approval of Coatings Care® automatically validated NPCA members facility EMS systems (when developed under Coatings Care®) for Performance Track participation and alleviated the need for supplying additional information. EPA’s review identified two areas where clarifications were required to align perfectly with the Performance Track requirements; a statement reinforcing "top management participation" as part of the overall policy of Coatings Care®, and clarification of document control policy references in the Environmental Management portion of the Manufacturing Management Code. These beneficial changes are in the works, but do not preclude the use of Coatings Care® as a framework for participation in the Performance Track program. EPA's website provides more information on the program, visit http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/.