VERNICI: LA MISURA DEL COLORE

Community RePaint: 

Giving Colour New Life for a Sustainable Future

How many of us have a half-used paint can forgotten in a basement or garage, destined to end up in the trash? This seemingly harmless act hides a significant environmental issue. In the UK alone, it is estimated that around 55 million litres of paint are wasted every year — the equivalent of almost 14 million full cans — over 50% of which would still be perfectly usable. This waste not only represents a high disposal cost but also a potential environmental hazard. It is from this awareness that Community RePaint was born, a pioneering initiative that, for over thirty years, has been revolutionising the approach to managing unused paint.

A Research-Driven, Ethically Guided Initiative

Community RePaint was created to offer an effective solution to this waste problem by promoting the reuse and regeneration of paint. It originated in 1992 in Leeds as a research project ("Waste Wagon") conducted by a consortium of organisations involved in waste management, aiming to understand how much unused paint was stored in households. Researchers discovered that the average household held approximately 17 unused paint cans. A year later, in 1993, the pilot project came to life, evolving into what is now the Community RePaint network.

Today, Community RePaint is the largest paint reuse network in the UK, sponsored by Dulux and managed by Resource Futures, an environmental consultancy. Its ethos is clear: to view “waste as a resource, not a nuisance,” with the goal of creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to brighten their spaces and their lives — regardless of income.

How It Works: A Circular Economy Model in Practice

The network operates through a simple but highly effective model. Community RePaint collects surplus and leftover paint from both individuals and businesses through a network of over 200 drop-off points and more than 80 local projects across the UK. The paint is then redistributed within local communities to those most in need — including individuals, low-income families, charities, schools, community centres, and places of worship — at affordable prices.

The initiative goes beyond simple redistribution: it also supports two paint remanufacturing facilities, where collected paint is sorted, filtered, and blended to produce a near-new product sold under the ReColour brand. ReColour paint is made from 97% recycled paint and is considered the most affordable high-quality paint available in the UK.

Concrete Impact and Measurable Benefits

The impact of Community RePaint has been significant. Since its inception, it has recovered, reused, or remanufactured more than 5.4 million litres of paint. In 2023 alone, the network reached over 380,000 people, redistributing 369,807 litres of donated paint and selling 130,000 litres of ReColour paint. It provided 145 individuals with volunteering and work experience opportunities and employed 34 full-time staff members. In the past year, eight new drop-off points were added, extending coverage to Northern Ireland for the first time.

The beneficiaries of this initiative are diverse:

• The Environment: A substantial reduction in paint destined for disposal, contributing to sustainability and turning waste into a resource.

• Communities: Individuals and low-income groups gain access to affordable decorating materials, improving their living spaces and quality of life, while creating employment and volunteer opportunities.

• Schools and Charities: They can carry out projects and enhance their premises at reduced cost.

• Local Authorities: Significant cost savings are achieved, as reuse is far cheaper than disposal.

A Leading Example of Circular Economy for Global Replication

Community RePaint is a striking example of how circular economy principles can be successfully applied even in sectors rarely associated with sustainability. It transforms potential waste into a valuable resource, creating economic, social, and environmental value. This model shows that change can start from the ground up — from local projects capable of generating global impact.

As David Squire, Community RePaint’s network coordinator, highlights:

“Circular economy is the key — it is an economic model in which resources and products are continuously reused, repaired, and recycled. It needs to be scaled up and promoted more widely, as it has the potential to transform society as a whole.”

Community RePaint stands as a successful prototype that deserves replication and adaptation worldwide — to paint a more sustainable and equitable future for all.