FAQ

Even after obtaining one or more sustainability labels, approvals or 
certificates, a paint product is unfortunately not circular. PPG does, however, pay as much attention as possible to a sustainable production method and use of raw materials with the lowest possible impact on people and the environment.

According to ISO 14024:20181, a Type I environmental label is an environmental label that is based on an independent assessment against 
pre-established environmental criteria – based on a life cycle approach.
By using a paint product with the Ecolabel you comply with the ISO 24014 type 1 quality mark.

PPG is obliged to comply with national and international legislation. No certificate is available for this.

A material passport could contain different types of information, such as circularity, CO2 footprint, safety information, product characteristics. At EU level it is determined when a material passport becomes a requirement and which topics must be covered. A material passport is currently not mandatory in the Netherlands and Belgium. However, several types of information are already available, see the website of sigma.nl/kenmerenbladen en keurmerk.

PPG does not simply provide insight into the raw materials of paint products. It has not yet been possible to remove old layers of paint from building parts, so that the remains can be used in a circular process. Our paint products are therefore currently not suitable for circular use. More information about PPG’s use of circulation can be found on the sigma.nl/sustainability website.

Circularity assumes that today’s products are the raw materials for later: 
after use, products can be dismantled and the materials reused.

Circularity therefore assumes a world without waste. This is in contrast to 
the current approach where we continually purchase, use and discard new products. This throwaway and replacement culture has a huge impact on 
the earth. Circularity is not a goal in itself, but a strategy for achieving 2 important international policy goals:

1. combating the depletion of raw materials;
2. limiting climate change.

Breeam is a building certification and not a product certification. 
Products make a positive contribution to the environmental score of a building. Paint products can be tested for emission limits set in Breeam. 
After a successful test, a report is obtained. With this report, a Breeam accessor can award points when screening the building and all materials 
used. It is possible to receive a certificate based on an IAC Gold Eurofins 
report. An attest is a certificate stating that a specific product meets the emission requirements of the intended label.

Nowadays, Breeam International 2022 applies in the Netherlands. 
The section Health/Internal air quality/HEA 02 is current and various 
Sigma products have a Breeam certificate for this. For more information, 
see the website.

ISO 14001 specifies the requirements of an environmental management system that an organization can use to improve its environmental performance. The standard is therefore an important instrument for organizations’ own responsibility to reduce the impact on the environment as a result of their activities, products and services and thus contribute to sustainable development.

ISO 14001 is therefore not sustainability proof for a paint product.
Furthermore, the certificate does not show which efforts or improvements have been made or have already been achieved. nevertheless it is possible to receive a copy of this certificate. Please contact Technical Support Services, tel no. 0297-541889.

Products with a sustainability label are not in advance more sustainable than products without a label. If paint products have not been tested, this does not mean that they cannot meet a label. It is a free choice to subject a paint product to a test in order to obtain a label.
A test could therefore show that a paint product does meet the stated requirements, but without a test the evidence is lacking.

Note:
Only CE marking is subject to an EU obligation. This obligation does not apply to all other labels, approvals or certificates described.