UK paint brands invest £500,000 in leftover paint return scheme trial, which will be run in partnership with waste management company Biffa.
The PaintCare UK trial is a voluntary, industry-funded take-back scheme run by the British Coatings Federation (BCF) on behalf of UK paint manufacturers.
The three-month pilot will allow consumers and tradespeople to return leftover decorative paint and empty packaging to selected participating retailers in the West Midlands Combined Authority area from March 2026.
PaintCare UK’s target is to reuse or recycle 75% of leftover paint by 2032, compared with an estimated 2% today. The scheme also plans to roll out nationally in mid-2027.
Commenting on the launch of the pilot, Tom Bowtell, CEO of the British Coatings Federation, said: “What makes PaintCare particularly powerful is the level of collaboration across brands and retailers.”
“By working together, we can test solutions at a scale that would not be possible individually and use real evidence from this trial to help shape a system that works nationally.”
The pilot involves major paint brands, including Dulux, Johnstone’s Paint, Crown Paints, Craig & Rose, Valspar and Little Greene, and retail partners such as B&Q.
PaintCare UK is working with waste and recycling partner Biffa to manage the collection, transport and treatment of returned paint and packaging.
As part of the scheme, someone can hand paint and empty packaging directly to a member of staff in a participating store.
Collections began in February with a phased introduction across participating stores planned through March 2026.
