The British Coatings Federation (BCF) - the trade association representing the interests of the printing inks, decorative paints, industrial and powder coatings, and wallcovering manufacturers in the UK - has announced an ‘Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) Charter’, a public commitment that recognises and celebrates companies in the sector that are committed to working towards a more balanced, fair and high-performing market. 30 members have so far signed up, including HP.
BCF ED&I committee chair Lisa Kelly, said of the move: “Diversity and inclusion are increasingly important to the coatings industry, our customers, stakeholders and investors. By signing up to this new charter, companies are not only demonstrating their commitment to an inclusive workforce but also the steps they are taking towards making this goal a reality.”
BCF CEO Tom Bowtell added: “By signing the charter, over 30 BCF members have committed to showing leadership to embed ED&I in their organisations, which is a fantastic start. The charter includes company commitments to proactively support the BCF in benchmarking, monitoring and reporting on their progress. The charter is only the beginning of the journey, and I’m looking forward to working with Lisa and the ED&I committee to move this important issue forward.”
The BCF has over 140 full manufacturer members and another over 100 associate/supplier companies in membership, in all representing 95% of all the UK sales of printing inks, paints, coatings, and wallcoverings.