Sherwin-Williams Paints A Trail Of Green With Industry-Leading EcoVision™ Sustainability Program

CLEVELAND (April 28, 2009) — Sherwin-Williams is committed to being a recognized leader in the development of sustainable processes, products and initiatives that help preserve natural resources, protect the environment and contribute to social improvement. That is why the company has implemented “EcoVision,” a company-wide mission to develop solutions that reduce environmental impact.

“EcoVision recognizes our need to contribute to the preservation of resources and the protection of our environment,” said Steve Revnew, director of marketing, product development for the company. “It’s an ongoing mission that all Sherwin-Williams employees can share to keep the environmental impact of our actions top of mind and to continue to develop products that work toward that goal.”

Sherwin-Williams is already taking steps to achieve its ongoing EcoVision, including reducing waste and conserving energy in its manufacturing facilities; minimizing fuel consumption on distribution routes; implementing recycling programs at its facilities and pioneering the use of sustainable raw materials in some of its paint formulations.  Sherwin-Williams is also partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its SmartWay® and ClimateLeaders® programs.

What’s more, many Sherwin-Williams coatings carry the company’s GreenSure® designation, as well as third party certification to recognize their lower environmental impact.  

Low-VOCs, High Performance
Sherwin-Williams currently offers four products with the company’s proprietary GreenSure mark, developed to help customers identify products that meet both green criteria and the highest performance standards. These products are Duration Home™, Harmony®, ProGreen™ 200 and Builders Solution®.  The Sherwin-Williams GreenSure designation is the company’s commitment that these high performance products were designed and manufactured taking steps to reduce environmental impact and to meet or exceed the most stringent regulatory requirements. To learn more, visit greensure.com.

Third-Party GREENGUARD Certification
Beyond GreenSure, Sherwin-Williams also offers environmentally responsible products that are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® as well as certified for GREENGUARD for Children & Schools℠ by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. These include Harmony, ProGreen 200, Pro Industrial™ 0 VOC Acrylic, Pro Industrial Pro-Cryl® Universal Primer, PrepRite Block Filler, and Pro Select Stampede Polyurethane Sealant. Tested according to the rigid GREENGUARD Certification standards for low-emitting products, these certified coatings, like GreenSure products, are found to have minimal impact on indoor air quality and the environment. 

“Sherwin-Williams leads the industry in the development of environmentally responsible products through our GreenSure designation,” Revnew said. “However, it is important to us that we offer products to our customers that are third-party tested and certified through the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. These products meet or exceed the most stringent green building specifications.”

Green Inside and Out
All four of Sherwin-Williams GreenSure designated products are packaged in recycled plastic containers. These sustainable containers are 100 percent recycled from post-consumer resin, and their labels, printed with soy ink, contain 75 percent recovered fibers and 25 percent post-consumer waste. Additionally, to reduce the travel distance and with that, the environmental impact of transportation from plant to store, these containers are used at four different plants around the United States.

“We know that when trade professionals and their customers seek a sustainable solution, they have a holistic view and want goods that are environmentally responsible from the inside out,” Revnew said. “With our new can, Sherwin-Williams is able to provide our customers with an all-encompassing, environmentally responsible product ― a low-VOC paint in recycled packaging.”

For more information about Sherwin-Williams EcoVision mission, visit swgreenspecs.com.

Ask Sherwin-Williams
For over 140 years, Sherwin-Williams has satisfied the coating and color needs of builders, designers, specifiers, property managers and contractors. Sherwin-Williams provides fast, flexible, responsive local service and personalized, expert advice. More than 3,300 stores and 1,600 sales representatives make Sherwin-Williams North America’s largest single-source supplier of high-quality paints, stains, masonry coatings and brand-name wall and floor coverings. Visit sherwin-williams.com. For green solutions, visit swgreenspecs.com.

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