|  Patrice Marcil
October 21, 2010
December 18, 2010
The end of high VOC products
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Products containing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) will be available for sale only up until December 17. So, as of December 18, it will be too late to buy these products from wholesalers.
Since June 18, Canada has prohibited paint manufacturers from importing products high in VOCs. As of December 18, their sale will be completely forbidden.
These Canadian regulations include high-VOC products that are used for anything that runs on wheels: cars, trucks, buses, tow trucks…even lawn mowers.
As a result, the closer we get to the end of 2010, the more we’re seeing a shortage of such products in those repair shops that still use them, since distributors have replaced high-VOC products with less polluting alternatives.
Most Have Converted
Given that it’s already been four years since repair shops started switching to hydrosoluble products, we estimate that approximately 90% of all current paint shops are already in compliance with these new regulations.
So far, the switch has been successful - low-VOC products have been outselling high-content solvent products for more than a year now.
Although we were worried at first about costs, these fears vanished once we realized that the amount we had to invest, in relation to our sales, was a minor consideration.
Plus, the same kind of equipment needed is not radically different from that used for solvent-based products, e.g. choice of colours. The fact is, it’s actually an improvement.
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Act Now
Even if this switch has caused very few (if any) shops to close, some are still slow to make the move. Ready or not, December 18 will mark the end of an era.
Those who have not yet made the switch have already felt the solvent shortage, sometimes lacking specific requirements to create a colour or to activate a product. Indeed, there’s no quick fix to be found.
On the bright side, switching to hydrosoluble products is fast, easy and cheap for repair shops that buy pre-mixed colours.
The Beginning of a New Era
As of December 18, it will become impossible to purchase old, high-solvent products. Nonetheless, from now until then, even latecomers can successfully switch to hydrosoluble products.
Although this switch is unavoidable, it is reassuring to know that we can rely on the support of paint manufacturers and wholesalers to offer their expertise as well as the latest training programs.
Rather than simply signalling the end of a major process, December 18 will mark the beginning of an era, and introducing its own changes, some expected, some surprising. If you haven’t made the switch, now’s the time!
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