After a challenging 2023 due to the geopolitical situation and overall macroeconomic climate, the wood coatings industry had realistic expectations going into 2024.
“The existing geo-political tensions along with global inflation have subdued construction and created challenging market conditions,” said Sabrina Garasi, Regional Product Marketing Manager EMEA. “AkzoNobel Wood Finishes serves categories linked with construction and refurbishment, so inflation has a disproportionately high impact on our end markets. The housing market, which has experienced high interest rates and rising house prices, also had an impact.”
That said, AkzoNobel expects the industry to start rebounding in 2025 and through 2026. The fact that it operates in both interior and exterior markets globally and across a broad range of end uses, from kitchen cabinets and furniture, to building products and flooring, means it can capitalise on demand from all corners.
“Our wood coatings serve critical segments such as building products, cabinets, flooring, and furniture, all of which continue to have strong underlying trends that will continue to grow the market in the future,” said Ms Garasi.
Teknos also benefits from its wide-ranging portfolio of products.
“Most people know Teknos for our industrial coatings, but we also offer a range of maintenance paints for timber windows and doors,” said Jon Mears, Regional Marketing Business Partner at Teknos.
“Using Teknos paints throughout the life cycle of timber windows and doors, extending their service life, can make them a more sustainable solution for homeowners,” he added. “To promote this, we focused on ensuring our maintenance paints are more widely available through our network of over 25 independent paint and coatings merchants, as well as launching an online store.”
As for what the market is looking for these days, sustainability is still top of the wish list.
“Our industrial customers are increasingly aware of their environmental responsibilities and the need to stay ahead of the regulations,” said Mr Mears. “They want to work in partnership with their coating suppliers to reduce emissions and extend the lifecycle of their products. The coating industry has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and Teknos is one of the suppliers looking closely at CO2 across the entire value chain. Our sustainability efforts were recognised last year when we were awarded EcoVadis Gold, putting Teknos in the top 5% of EcoVadis assessed companies.”
Customer demands and requirements have been evolving for Akzo Nobel too, with a consistent focus on key areas such as formaldehyde-free products, waterborne solutions and UV curing systems.
“We see the market shifting to more sustainable technologies, focused on driving increased efficiencies, as well as new innovations to enhance wood as a material of choice,” said Ms Garasi.
Sustainable solutions including biobased/ renewable products, low-energy curing solutions such as UV and LED curing technologies, and products with extended durability have become more important for AkzoNobel over the years and it is still an important focus for the company.
“Our technical and sales teams are supporting the industry change required by providing sustainable, practical solutions with our customers and developing innovative sustainability-focused products,” said Jaap van’t Klooster, Business Manager Wood Finishes EMEA North & West.
“Like all sectors, it is essential that the coatings industry is striving to be sustainable by introducing new practices and innovations to improve the environment. True sustainability requires a joint effort and AkzoNobel is collaborating with customers, suppliers, academia, and other stakeholders on our joint sustainability journey.
“We have set ambitious targets to cut carbon emissions by 50%, achieving 50% of revenue from sustainable solutions, and a 100% circular use to materials to minimise waste – all achieved by 2030,” added Mr van’t Klooster.
“Our most in-demand products in the UK are those that align with the growing focus on sustainability. Customers are increasingly seeking solutions that not only help reduce their environmental impact but also enhance the efficiency of their operations. By prioritising innovative and sustainable practices, we meet the needs of businesses looking to transition to more sustainable operations while maintaining high levels of productivity and cost-effectiveness.”
Meanwhile, Teknos’s most in-demand products are down to the increasing use of modified timber in the joinery sector.
“Teknos has 20 years of proven coating performance with these substrates, and sales for these coating systems are increasing year-on-year, as are the number of modified substrates on the market,” said Mr Mears.
He added that the machinery coatings market in both the UK and Ireland also continues to be a growth area for Teknos.
“Having optimised our technical solutions with direct to metal and moisture curing coatings, we have been able to expand the team, taking on a highly experienced regional sales manager, covering the UK,” he said.
Mr Mears also noted that new regulations for fire retardant coatings have been implemented and continue to be updated, with British Standards being replaced by the Euro Class system. Teknos continues to offer some of the best-in-class solutions on the market with its TEKNOSAFE fire retardant coating systems, he said.
New products continue to come to market and late last year AkzoNobel’s Sikkens Wood Coatings brand launched Aqualit T2700.
This is a fast-drying 1K clear self-sealing topcoat, supporting customers to switch to low VOC waterborne systems for lower emissions. The company says Aqualit T2700 delivers excellent transparency, good hardness, easy sanding, good scratch resistance with strong anti-sagging and pore filling properties. Its non-hazardous formulation means easy training, seamless application and easy handling.
“The product sets a strong precedent that Sikkens Wood Coatings is a modern and dynamic brand in tune with today’s wood coatings market, with a diverse portfolio to satisfy most industrial wood coatings requirements,” said Mr van’t Klooster.
Colour research is a key area of investment for AkzoNobel and, through its Global Colour and Design Studio, it works with designers and architects to understand the latest influences affecting colours and effects, drawing inspiration from fashion, architecture, lifestyle and nature.
“Our 2025 Colour of the Year is True Joy – a sunny yellow shade that brings optimism, pride and a splash of vibrant colour, all aligned with societal trends to embrace the unknown, celebrate craftsmanship and accept who we are,” said Ms Garasi.
True Joy is paired with three complementary colour palettes, or ‘colour stories’, including:
- Bold – “leave your comfort zone and inject adventure into your home with bright and uplifting colours”.
- Human – “bring creativity into your home by filling it with unique handmade pieces”.
- Proud – “embrace your identity and have the confidence to create a home that’s just as unique as you are”.
AkzoNobel says that True Joy, along with the complementary colour stories, will be a key influence on home decor – including furniture, flooring, cabinetry and various building products – in the coming year.
Teknos, meanwhile, notes that the market remains “predominantly opaque colours due to the use of colour as differentiation and design within buildings”.
Looking ahead, AkzoNobel says the wood coatings sector faces both significant challenges and exciting opportunities as sustainability takes centre stage.
“One of the biggest challenges lies in reducing environmental impacts across the value chain, from raw materials to final applications, while meeting increasing regulatory and consumer expectations for greener solutions,” said Ms Garasi. “However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation and leadership.
“With initiatives like It All Adds Up, we are addressing these challenges through three pillars: Taking the Lead, Exploring New Options, and Sharing Responsibility. The opportunity to drive positive change comes from setting ambitious goals, such as halving our carbon footprint by 2030, and continuously improving the sustainability of our products to reduce waste, extend durability, and save energy. Collaboration is key: by working closely with partners, we can uncover new ways to make businesses more sustainable, reduce costs, and prepare for the future.
“Ultimately, the sector’s success will depend on turning sustainability challenges into opportunities for growth, innovation, and long-term value creation,” added Ms Garasi. “Together, every step we take adds up to transformative progress.”
