Ceresana reports strong global growth in bio-based solvents for paints and coatings, driven by sustainability and stricter regulations. These renewable, biodegradable solvents reduce VOC emissions and reliance on fossil fuels while maintaining product performance.
The paints and coatings sector is undergoing a significant transformation as sustainability takes centre stage, with bio-based solvents playing a pivotal role. These solvents—derived at least partly from renewable raw materials—now represent a substantial share of the market for green solvents, contributing to nearly two-thirds of sales.
Paints and coatings rely heavily on solvents for formulation, application, and drying processes. Traditional petrochemical solvents, while effective, often pose environmental and health risks due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Bio-based solvents offer a safer and more sustainable alternative, often biodegradable and compliant with international standards such as ISO 16128, which governs ingredients for organic cosmetics but also influences greener formulations across industries.
Among the most important bio-based solvents for paints and coatings are ethanol, butanols, ethyl acetate, and terpenes such as D-limonene, which is extracted from waste orange peel. This not only enhances sustainability but also promotes the use of biomass residues and by-products that would otherwise be discarded—like whey, molasses, corn cobs, or sugar cane bagasse—to produce valuable solvent chemicals.
Switching to bio-based solvents reduces reliance on fossil fuels, lowers VOC emissions, and supports the circular economy by utilising agricultural and industrial waste streams. For the paints industry, these solvents maintain the required performance characteristics—such as effective drying, adhesion, and finish quality—while significantly improving the environmental footprint of coatings products.
Ceresana’s comprehensive report highlights that paints and coatings constitute one of the largest application sectors for bio-based solvents globally. The study covers demand and sales across key regions—including Western and Eastern Europe, North and South America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa—forecasting continued growth driven by tightening environmental regulations and rising consumer demand for sustainable products. The report also examines country-specific markets within the top solvent-consuming nations, such as Germany, France, Italy, the UK, USA, China, and India, showing increasing adoption of bio-solvents in industrial and decorative coatings.
About Ceresana
Ceresana is a global market research leader specialising in chemicals, plastics, packaging, and industrial goods, with a strong focus on the bio-economy and sustainability trends. Since 2002, Ceresana has provided over 10,000 clients worldwide with strategic insights and market forecasts.