Sherwin-Williams contributes to a circular economy by extending the lifespan of materials. By exploring biobased, bio-attributed and recycled materials made from feedstocks that can be regenerated, there is potential to reduce the use of scarce resources. We have a robust life cycle assessment (LCA) program, which plays an important role in measuring the potential environmental impacts of our existing products and developing additional products with sustainability attributes.
Understanding Life Cycle Impacts
We achieved third-party certification of in-house LCA tools and processes in 2016. In 2025, we brought automation to our LCA process, shortening the time it takes to complete an assessment from days to just minutes. While automation has simplified the LCA process, outputs of an LCA still include detailed information about a product’s potential environmental impact from raw materials sourcing, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, and end of life. LCAs are a key input to environmental product declarations (EPDs) for the architectural, building materials and construction industries, which are validated by third parties. These documents provide information on a product’s environmental performance and eligibility for credit in green building programs such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®). EPDs help specifiers and users compare products across various sustainability attributes.
Solutions for Post-Consumer Paint
Customers need a way to safely manage paint products that are left over after the completion of a project. We help meet this need by participating in PaintCare®, a nonprofit program of the American Coatings Association. The program attempts to find the highest and best use for all paint it collects. About 80 percent of paint collected at PaintCare drop-off locations consists of latex-based products. Recovered paint can be recycled or used in the manufacture of other products. Oil-based paint, which makes up about 20 percent of what is collected, is generally sent to processors to use as fuel. The PaintCare program continues to grow. The program now maintains drop-off sites in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Sherwin-Williams is among the program’s largest supporters, with approximately 70 percent of Sherwin-Williams paint stores in these jurisdictions hosting PaintCare sites. Similar programs are now expanding internationally. For example, PaintCare UK, which is overseen by the British Coatings Federation, began conducting trials in 2026 with a nationwide rollout expected in 2027.