Top 10 Companies in the Green Printing and Environmentally Friendly Coatings Industry (2026): Pioneers of Sustainable Surface Solutions

In Business Insights
January 29, 2026


The Global Green Printing and Environmentally Friendly Coatings Market was valued at USD 1.35 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.06 Billion by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.5% during the forecast period (2024–2034). This robust expansion is fueled by increasingly stringent environmental regulations, a powerful consumer shift toward sustainable products, and continuous innovations in bio-based materials, particularly within high-demand sectors like food packaging, e-commerce logistics, and publishing.

As industries worldwide commit to reducing their environmental footprint, the demand for printing and coating solutions that minimize volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and promote circularity is surging. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Green Printing and Environmentally Friendly Coatings Industry—a dynamic mix of established chemical giants and specialized innovators who are defining the future of sustainable surface applications.

Download FREE Sample Report: Green Printing and Environmentally Friendly Coatings Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔟 1. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Acronal® ECO water-based binders, Joncryl® ECO acrylic resins, UV-curable coatings

BASF is a global leader in the chemical industry, with a extensive portfolio of environmentally compatible solutions for coatings and printing inks. Their focus is on developing high-performance products that reduce VOC content and are based on renewable raw materials, serving diverse markets from packaging to automotive.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Commitment to carbon-neutral growth by 2030

  • Expansion of bio-based and biodegradable polymer offerings

  • Active partnerships with brand owners to develop circular packaging solutions


9️⃣ 2. AkzoNobel N.V.

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Key Offering: Interpon® Eco, Sikkens® water-based coatings, UV/EB curing technologies

AkzoNobel, through its leading brands, provides a wide array of sustainable paints and coatings. The company is heavily invested in developing products with lower environmental impact, focusing on powder coatings and water-based technologies that eliminate solvent use.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Targeting 100% carbon-neutral operations and 50% renewable carbon in products by 2030 (People. Planet. Paint. initiative)

  • Pioneering recycling programs for paint cans and waste paint


8️⃣ 3. PPG Industries, Inc.

Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: CORAFLON® Platinum low-VOC coatings, PPG ENVIROCRON® powder coatings, waterborne technologies

PPG is a major global supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. The company’s sustainability efforts are channeled into creating durable, low-VOC products for architectural, industrial, and packaging applications, helping customers meet their environmental goals.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • 40% of sales from products with sustainably advantaged features

  • Significant investment in R&D for bio-based feedstocks and circular solutions


7️⃣ 4. Sherwin-Williams Company

Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Key Offering: Sher-Wood® Waterborne Wood Coatings, Powdura® Eco polyester powder coatings

As a leader in the architectural and industrial coatings space, Sherwin-Williams is driving the adoption of green chemistry. The company develops advanced waterborne, high-solids, and radiation-curable coatings that significantly reduce VOC emissions compared to traditional solvent-based alternatives.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Product stewardship focused on reducing VOC content and hazardous ingredients

  • Commitment to sustainable sourcing and reducing the environmental footprint of operations

Download FREE Sample Report: Green Printing and Environmentally Friendly Coatings Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Sun Chemical Corporation (Subsidiary of DIC Corporation)

Headquarters: Parsippany, New Jersey, USA
Key Offering: SunVisto® AquaGreen water-based inks, bio-renewable inks, LED-curable inks

Sun Chemical is a dominant force in the printing inks, coatings, and supplies market. The company is at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions for packaging and publication gravure, flexography, and offset printing, with a strong emphasis on water-based and energy-curable technologies.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Integrated sustainability metrics into product development lifecycle

  • Development of compostable and recyclable packaging ink systems


5️⃣ 6. Flint Group

Headquarters: Luxembourg
Key Offering: EkoCure® ANCORA LED curing inks, Street Food Safe packaging inks, water-based flexo inks

Flint Group provides a vast portfolio of printing consumables for the packaging and print media industries. The company is committed to sustainability through its ‘Earth friendly, Customer close, People driven’ strategy, focusing on reducing the environmental impact of its products throughout their lifecycle.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Target of 75% of R&D expenditure dedicated to sustainable products

  • Introduction of carbon footprint data for key product lines


4️⃣ 7. Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA

Headquarters: Siegburg, Germany
Key Offering: SICURA® water-based inks, compostable ink solutions for flexible packaging, UV flexo inks

Siegwerk is one of the world’s leading providers of printing inks for packaging applications and labels. The company specializes in developing safe and sustainable ink systems that facilitate the recyclability and compostability of packaging, aligning with the circular economy.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Focus on “Circular Packaging” solutions to enable full recycling streams

  • Active member of the CEFLEX and HolyGrail 2.0 initiatives for packaging circularity


3️⃣ 8. Dow Chemical Company

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: AVANSE™ acrylic odorless inks, water-based polymers for coatings, recyclable adhesive solutions

Dow offers a wide range of materials science solutions, including advanced polymers and binders for green coatings and printing inks. Their technologies enable the formulation of high-performance, low-VOC products for demanding applications in construction, textiles, and packaging.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050

  • Launch of products with certified circular and bio-based content


2️⃣ 9. Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Lioaccum™ bio-based inks, Benebi® biomass plastics, water-based barrier coatings

Toyo Ink is a major international manufacturer of printing inks, pigments, and functional materials. The company champions its “Open the Future with Chemistry” vision, heavily investing in bio-derived materials and technologies that support a sustainable society.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of “Lioaccum” series using non-food biomass

  • Strategic focus on creating sustainable packaging value chains


1️⃣ 10. INX International Ink Co.

Headquarters: Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: INXhrc™ curable ink systems, Ecopure™ biodegradable inks, water-based coatings

INX International is a leading manufacturer of inkjet, liquid, and paste inks, as well as coatings. The company differentiates itself through innovation in energy-curable and water-based technologies, providing solutions that enhance sustainability for metal decorating, packaging, and digital printing.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Implementation of the “Color Performs” sustainability platform

  • Investment in next-generation hybrid and dual-cure technologies to reduce energy consumption

Read Full Report: Green Printing and Environmentally Friendly Coatings Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌱 Outlook: The Future of Green Printing and Coatings Is Circular and Innovative

The green printing and environmentally friendly coatings market is undergoing a profound transformation. While conventional products still hold significant market share, the industry is rapidly pivoting towards circular economy principles, advanced bio-based materials, and digital solutions that enhance efficiency and traceability.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated R&D in bio-based acrylics and polyurethanes derived from non-food sources

  • Regulatory momentum for mandatory recycled content and compostability standards in packaging

  • Integration of digital tools like blockchain for supply chain transparency and carbon footprint verification

  • Strategic alliances between raw material suppliers, converters, and brand owners to create closed-loop systems

Read Full Report: Green Printing and Environmentally Friendly Coatings Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled above are not only supplying essential materials—they are actively engineering the sustainable transformation of countless industries, from the packages on our shelves to the buildings we inhabit.