PFAS-Free Coatings: Capturing a €1.8 Billion Market Opportunity

Poster presented during the Coatings 2026 conference, occured in Athens (Greece) on April 20-22, 2026.

Abstract

The BIO-SUSHY project is developing PFAS-free, bio-based coatings that potentially address a portion of the expanding EUR 1.5 billion PFAS-free coatings market and significant environmental challenges. Companies that adopt BIO-SUSHY coatings mitigate compliance risks, expand their market presence, and enhance their brand reputation. On the other hand, companies that persist in using PFAS face potential fines and restricted market access due to increasingly stringent regulations.

BIO-SUSHY coatings are aligned with evolving regulatory requirements and increasing consumer demand for sustainable products. In fact, the project implements Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) principles, initially demonstrating applications for textiles, paper food trays, and cosmetic glass packaging, with potential for broader industry adoption. The PFAS-free coatings market is forecasted to grow from EUR 1.5 billion in 2024 to EUR 2.1 billion by 2030. Key markets include Europe (35-40% share, led by REACH), North America (with state-level PFAS bans), and Asia-Pacific (the fastest-growing region, accounting for 40% of the food packaging market).

The main BIO-SUSHY innovative coatings are thermoplastic powder coatings (80-98% bio-based) for food packaging, where regulatory bans in the EU and US, as well as quick-service restaurant (QSR) corporate commitments, are increasing demand. Hybrid organic and inorganic sol-gel coatings (23-46% and 5-15% bio-based, respectively) are developed for technical textiles and glass cosmetic packaging.

Key success factors include demonstration at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6), intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, comprehensive SSbD documentation, and a standardization roadmap which lower market entry barriers, positioning SSbD-validated coatings as preferred alternatives in markets where regulations are phasing out persistent pollutants.

The BIO-SUSHY project is funded by the European Union under the Grant Agreement Number 101091464. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.