Rohm and Haas Brings Sustainability Commitment To CEPE Conference Attendees

Sustainability as an issue to be addressed by the European paint and coatings industry has reached a "˜tipping point´, and that the ability to offer products that are better for the environment has shifted from a "˜nice to have´ aspect of a company´s portfolio to a central driver for successful business in the future, according to Dr. Cheryl Martin, Rohm and Haas Vice President and General Manager, Paint and Coatings Materials for Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"The topic of sustainability used to be discussed in company hallways and coffee rooms," said Martin in remarks to the Plenary Session of the CEPE Annual Conference and assembly in Berlin today. "Today, these conversations take place in company board rooms - and, more important, in R&D strategy sessions among the region´s leading paint companies. Why? Because "˜sustainability´ now means "˜profitability,´ " Martin says. CEPE is the European Council of producers and importers of paints, printing inks and artists´ colors, and represents the interests of 1,000 members in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland.

"Sustainability is good for the environment and good for business," says Martin. She says there are three drivers that have shifted this topic from the fringe to mainstream in the paint and coatings industry:

• What once were discrete trends, like global warming, energy conservation, solvent reduction, dependence on oil and increasing compliance regulations have converged and become clear. Life supporting resources are declining even as consumption of these resources is increasing.
• Consumers are more aware of the issues - and increasingly take these issues into consideration when they make a choice. "Consumers today are looking for products that use less energy, or pollute less," says Martin. "They still expect great performance from the products they buy - that´s a given - but they also look for something more."
• And, finally, the increasingly clarity about market need and consumer demand is enabling companies to focus on bringing new technologies and products to market that meet growing consumer needs and allow companies to make a reasonable profit in the process.

"The good news is that the European paint and coatings industry is stepping up," says Martin. "My own company, along with many others, is bringing environmentally advanced products to market in greater numbers every day." She notes that, should the industry falter in this effort, it runs the long–term risk of being legislated or invented out of the future.

Martin acknowledged that there´s a lot of work yet to be done, but that she is supremely confident in the power of chemistry and of smart chemists everywhere to invent the way into a more sustainable future, one step at a time. Rohm and Haas´ innovative approach to shift the coatings industry from solvent to water–based acrylic technology has brought real growth and benefits to the company. These contributions had the added benefit of being recognised by a number of high profile awards over the decades, the most recent being the recognition by the American Chemical Society as the inventors and successful developers of acrylic emulsion chemistry.

"Innovation alone is not enough to support sustainability," concludes Martin. "Partnerships with others, and being willing to drive the change that is needed, along with reliable and supportive policy frameworks are critical to the success of this industry moving forward."

About Rohm and Haas Company

Leading the way since 1909, Rohm and Haas (NYSE:ROH) is a global pioneer in the creation and development of innovative technologies and solutions for the specialty materials industry. The company´s technologies are found in a wide range of industries including: Building and Construction, Electronics and Electronic Devices, Household Goods and Personal Care, Packaging and Paper, Transportation, Pharmaceutical and Medical, Water, Food and Food Related, and Industrial Process. Innovative Rohm and Haas technologies and solutions help to improve life every day, around the world. Based in Philadelphia, PA, the company generated annual sales of approximately $8.9 billion in 2007. Visit www.rohmhaas.com for more information. Imagine the possibilities TM