What began as an initiative focused on recovering surplus industrial materials gradually evolved into a broader effort that combines environmental responsibility, industrial collaboration, and support for underprivileged communities abroad.
Contributed by Khaled Selim
Powder coatings are widely recognized as one of the most environmentally responsible finishing technologies used in modern manufacturing. Yet even with this highly efficient technology, an often-overlooked challenge remains within the powder coating supply chain. Across manufacturing plants, distribution networks and coating operations, certain quantities of powder coatings periodically move outside normal commercial circulation. This can occur during product transitions, inventory rotation, production changes or when reclaimed powders cannot be returned to the original coating process.
In many cases, these materials still contain valuable components: carefully engineered blends of polymer resins, pigments, fillers and additives designed to deliver long-term performance.
For many years, however, the coatings industry had limited pathways for recovering these materials once they left the supply chain. As a result, materials that still held value were often treated simply as waste.
Instead of being discarded, one initiative has turned powder waste into a global recycling effort connecting manufacturers, recycling specialists and nonprofit organizations working to support communities in developing regions.
Small Steps Toward Big Concepts
The powder recycling effort began taking shape in 2014 with the inception of iGlobal Materials that I opened in Pleasanton, California. We began exploring ways to create a structured program for collecting surplus powder coatings. At the time, the goal was straightforward: establish a responsible pathway for materials that no longer had a place within traditional distribution channels but still contained valuable raw materials.
Developing such a program required cooperation across the coatings supply chain. Early participation from companies such as Sherwin-Williams and Axalta Coating Systems helped establish the operational foundation for the initiative.
As participation in the program increased, the need for a more structured collection and logistics system became clear. In 2016, the CRC (Coatings Recycling Center) was established to coordinate the collection and redirection of surplus powder coatings from participating manufacturers. CRC is a subsidiary of the nonprofit coatings foundation that is now called the Global Sustainable Impact and Innovation Foundation (GSIIF).
Initially, materials were shipped from California to recycling partners located in North Africa, a maritime route that typically required about 55 days. As the initiative expanded, operations were later coordinated from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the company now ships 40-foot containers (each weighing 37,000 to 43,000 lbs) to New York. This shortened route significantly improved logistics, reducing shipping time to about 25 days while also lowering transportation costs.
The Coatings Recycling Center accepts all types of unwanted and unsalable powder coatings such as expired, surplus, old age, off-specs, reclaimed and fine powder. All types of packaging are acceptable as well, including gaylord boxes, drums, tote bags and boxes. Once powder is removed from boxes, the boxes are sent to another paper and cartons recycling facility. All photos courtesy of Coatech Chemical Industries.
The Collecting and Recycling Process
Although some aspects of the process by CRC have evolved, the organization’s core concept still exists today. Powder coating companies ship expired, surplus, old-age, off-spec, reclaimed and fine powders in any packaging—gaylord boxes, drums, tote bags and boxes—to the CRC. Also recycled by some raw material manufacturers are polyester and epoxy resins, pigments, colorants and functional additives used in powder coating systems.
After receiving these materials, GSIIF inspects the powder to determine its type. Then, the product is separated by type and color to prepare it for the recycling process. It is shipped to recycling specialists that have been active in the industry since 1986, bringing decades of experience in industrial material recovery.
These collected unwanted powder coatings, along with expired and off-spec raw materials, are carefully reformulated and blended with 10% virgin materials. What was once waste is transformed into reliable, fit-for-purpose powder coatings.
When powder coating leaves the supply chain, in many cases these materials still contain valuable blends of polymer resins, pigments, fillers and additives. Instead of being discarded, the Coatings Recycling Center in Pennsylvania turns powder waste into usable products to powder coat furniture, doors and cabinets in schools, hospitals and community centers in poor communities in Africa.
Partnerships Across Continents
Over the years, I have traveled frequently to several countries across North Africa, working directly with recycling partners and industrial operators involved in the program. These visits helped strengthen cooperation, coordinate logistics and expand the initiative across the underprivileged region. The recycled materials collected presented an opportunity to support communities where resources for public facilities can be limited. That’s when GSIIF was born, established in 2021.
Through GSIIF, recovered powder coating materials are used for projects that support schools, hospitals, libraries, shelters and nonprofit organizations serving communities in need, primarily across North Africa and Eastern Africa. To support these efforts, the program collaborates with local manufacturers and metal fabricators—many of whom supply schools, hospitals, libraries, shelters and nonprofit organizations under existing contracts—by donating recycled powder coatings so these companies can use the materials to produce products for those facilities. These coatings are applied to items such as school desks, hospital furniture, cabinets, doors and structural metal components used in community buildings.
Contribute to the Initiative
As the program continues to expand, coatings manufacturers, resin producers and pigment manufacturers are encouraged to participate in this effort and help advance a shared industry goal of zero waste to landfill. By working together across the supply chain, the coatings industry can significantly reduce material waste while preserving valuable resources for future production.
We are working with most powder coating manufacturers to achieve their sustainability 0726program at joinus@coatingsrecyclingcenter.com.
Khaled Selim is CEO of Coatec Chemical Industries, where he is an industrial coatings specialist focused on powder coating recycling, sustainable materials recovery and circular solutions within the global coatings industry.