New Delhi: Leading paint manufacturers and retailers in the United Kingdom have launched a pilot project that will allow consumers and tradespeople to return leftover decorative paint and empty containers to participating retail outlets, as the industry looks to tackle paint waste and improve recycling rates.
The initiative, called PaintCare UK, is being trialled in the West Midlands from March 2026 and is backed by several major brands including Dulux, Crown Paints, Johnstone’s Paint, Craig & Rose, Valspar and Little Greene. Retail partners such as B&Q, Brewers Decorator Centres and Dulux Decorator Centres are also participating in the programme.
Under the pilot, customers will be able to return unused paint and packaging at designated stores. The collected materials will then be transported to specialised facilities where they will be assessed for reuse, remanufacture or recycling into alternative products.
The programme aims to address the growing problem of paint waste in the UK. Industry estimates suggest millions of litres of decorative paint are discarded every year, with only a small portion currently recycled while the rest is typically sent to landfill or incineration.
Officials from the British Coatings Federation, which is coordinating the initiative, said the trial is intended to test how a nationwide collection and recycling model could work. The industry has set a long-term goal of increasing the reuse, recycling and remanufacture of leftover paint to around 75% by 2032, significantly higher than current levels.
If successful, the pilot could pave the way for a national scheme and mark a major step toward a circular economy in the paints and coatings sector, where materials are reused and waste is minimised.