Sustainability

Protecting infrastructure. Reducing impact. Extending asset life.

At MCU-Coatings®, sustainability is not a claim, it is a consequence of how our coatings are designed, applied, and perform over time.

Concrete and steel carry a high embodied carbon cost. The most effective way to reduce environmental impact is not replacement but extending the service life of existing infrastructure.

MCU-Coatings® achieve this through exceptional durability, efficient application, and reduced maintenance intervention.

Sustainability through durability.

There are no carbon-neutral protective coatings. All industrial coatings are solvent-based.
The real sustainability challenge is how often assets need to be recoated; and the disruption, waste and emissions that follow.

MCU-Coatings® systems are independently proven to deliver +25 years to first maintenance in C5 VH environments, even when applied over St 3 mechanically prepared steel. Traditional coating systems in the same conditions typically achieve 2–5 years.

Fewer recoats mean:

Less abrasive blasting and waste
Fewer site mobilisations
Reduced energy, access, and containment requirements
Lower disruption to critical infrastructure over its life
This is where the greatest environmental benefit is realised

A materially lower environmental footprint.

Independent comparative analysis shows that MCU-Coatings® systems deliver a substantially lower lifecycle environmental footprint than traditional multi-coat epoxy and polyurethane systems.

Key contributors include:

Lower applied film thickness (≈225 µm vs 325–800 µm)
Reduced waste during application (≈5–15% vs 30–50%)
Fewer maintenance cycles across the asset life
Longer service life, even with reduced surface preparation
Because MCU-Coatings® last longer and require fewer interventions, the cumulative carbon, waste, and energy associated with corrosion protection are dramatically reduced

Environmental Footprint Comparative Analysis.

Relative carbon units (baseline 100):

Waste factor
Surface profile additional usage
Coating thickness
Warranty maintenance

Expected service life:

Mechanical surface preparation
Full blast surface preparation

Traditional Coatings		MCU-Coatings®
Units	Carbon Units	Units	Carbon Units
30-50%	140	5-15%	110
20%	192		116
325µm-800µm	277	225µm	116
7.50%	298	2.50%	118
-	-	-	-
2-5 years	2130	+25 years	118
+15 years	596	+25 years	118

Comparative reduction in the MC -Coatings® carbon footprint:

(this analysis does not include savings from utilising a high pressure water blast instead of abrasive blasting. MCU-Coatings® do not require high profile (+50um) surfaces to achieve excellent adhesion)

Efficiency that reduces emissions.

More than 90% of protective-coating project costs and a large proportion of associated emissions are time-based.

MCU-Coatings® typically reduce project duration by 15–40% through:

Single-component systems (no pot-life waste or mixing errors)
Fast cure and short recoat intervals
Application across wide temperature and humidity ranges
Minimal rework and predictable outcomes
Shorter projects mean less plant, labour, energy use, and site time, delivering both environmental and economic benefits

Safer chemistry and human health.

Sustainability also means protecting the people who apply and work around our products.
No Bisphenol-A
Minimal free isocyanates (pre-polymerised during manufacture)
No reported occupational health incidents in over 35 years of global use
No induction waste, mis-mixing failures or curing risks associated with two-pack systems
Lower application risk supports safer sites and more sustainable outcomes

Responsible ancillaries for sensitive environments.

MCU-Coatings® extends its sustainability approach beyond coatings alone:

MCU-Ecocleaner® and MCU-Ecodegreaser® are biodegradable and marine-safe
MCU-Ecocleaner® has been independently tested and shown to be 91% biodegradable
Aluminium-based primers provide alternatives to zinc systems in environmentally sensitive locations
These solutions reduce contamination risk while maintaining performance

Making Sustainability Part of Every Project.

Our commitment to sustainability at MCU-Coatings® is not a marketing label. It is a design principle.

We are committed to:

Continuing to reduce VOC emissions (already reduced by approximately 30% over five years)
Improving durability to extend asset life
Minimising waste, rework, and disruption
Supporting safer application practices
Protecting existing infrastructure as the most effective form of carbon reduction
The most sustainable coating is the one you don’t have to replace

Want the data?

Independent testing, lifecycle comparisons and supporting technical evidence are available on request.

Protect more. Waste less. Finish faster.

Whether you’re an applicator or asset owner, trust MCU-Coatings® for superior corrosion protection. Discover how MCU-Coatings® can support your next project, talk to our team today.

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