The past year will certainly be remembered for the terrible and tragic war in the Ukraine. This was followed by the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. These events also had a major impact on our industry and businesses with the ongoing raw material inflation as well as surging energy costs.
Meanwhile, Europe continues to move forward with the EU Green Deal agenda. The top priority for CEPE members is the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). While the proposed revision of REACH has been delayed until later in 2023, the European Commission has published several legislative proposals of direct relevance to our sector, such as the proposal to revise the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. The Commission is also advancing the topic of a circular economy, with a proposal to set eco-design requirements for products before they can be placed on the market, and the revision of the Packaging and Packaging
Waste Directive aimed at more recycling and circularity.
The current business, economic and regulatory environment prompted the Board to reassess and revisit the vision, mission and values of CEPE. Our purpose is to be a trusted and proactive partner to ensure the sustainability of the paints, coatings, printing inks and artists’ colours. We will continue to strive to provide the necessary framework, information and toolbox that allow member companies to navigate the current and future regulatory landscape, and thereby help ensure a sustainable future for our sector and
the environment.
As part of striving to be more proactive, we continued our exercise to gather data on substances, and launched two scientific studies on microplastics under the framework of the new CEPE Research Fund. The aim is to support discussions and concerns ahead of possible regulatory action with accurate, scientific and balanced information. On a policy level, CEPE has put forward the concept of the early analysis of alternatives as a pillar of the future regulatory decisions under REACH and which has been
endorsed by other trade associations.
Building on these initiatives and successes, CEPE has set up a public affairs group to ensure that the voice of the paints, printing inks and artists’ colours industry is heard on key political topics. This group coordinates the communications and advocacy activities of CEPE. Key achievements of the group include the biocides campaign and a series of meetings at the highest level with members of the European Commission.
2022 was also the year we returned to “normal” life after the pandemic and face-to-face meetings resumed. All the colleagues of our National Associations met in Brussels for an EU workshop, and a joint session was organised between the Directors of the National Associations and the Board members. This culminated with the CEPE community at large meeting for its first Annual Conference and General Assembly in Madrid since before the pandemic.
Looking ahead, 2023 will undoubtedly be another year full of many challenges and opportunities for our sector. To be up to date on all these issues we invite you to read the CEPE Signal, attend our quarterly regulatory update meetings and join our working groups.
