Powdertech commissions major sustainability study

The cradle-to-gate environmental impact of powder coating on aluminium

Powdertech (Corby) recently commissioned an independent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from the Bartlett School of Architecture[1] to understand the cradle-to-gate environmental impact of polyester powder coated aluminium. The aim was simple: to learn exactly what impact the powder coating aspect has and where improvements can be made.

The powder coating process has minimal impact on carbon footprint 

The findings confirmed that the powder coating process contributes very little to the overall carbon footprint of aluminium façade and rainscreen panels. In fact, less than 2 kg CO2-eq. per m² (or 0.25 C02e/kgAl on a 3mm aluminium substrate) comes from the coating stage, proving that polyester powder coating is a low-impact finishing choice.

Packaging is the sustainability opportunity

But the study also helped us learn something new; packaging makes up a surprisingly high share of the footprint within Powdertech’s own operations. In fact, packaging was the single biggest contributor in the coating stage, contributing around 45% of the global warming potential of this stage.

That’s good news because it shows us a clear opportunity for positive change. By re-thinking packaging materials, reducing unnecessary wrapping, and working with both our customers and our packaging suppliers, we can take real steps to cut carbon and waste.

This is why we commissioned the LCA: not just to confirm powder coating’s strong sustainability credentials, but to highlight practical, collaborative ways to do better.

Together, we can make a sustainable process even better

We’ve learnt that sustainability doesn’t stop with the coating line. It extends to how materials are delivered, protected, and handled throughout their journey. We’ll be working with customers and suppliers alike to explore smarter packaging and improved material handling. We believe that real progress happens when we all pull in the same direction. Powder coating is a responsible choice for the built environment . It is a solvent-free and sustainable, it provides up to 40 years durability, and the process has a low carbon footprint.

With these new insights and collaboration on packaging choices, we can make it even better.