UK paint brands pilot leftover paint return scheme

Leading UK paint manufacturers and retailers are coming together to trial PaintCare UK, a voluntary, industry-funded take-back scheme run by the British Coatings Federation (BCF) on behalf of UK paint manufacturers.

The scheme, which will be trialled in the West Midlands for three months from March 2026, will allow consumers and tradespeople to return leftover decorative paint and empty packaging to selected participating retailers.

The PaintCare pilot brings together major paint brands; Dulux, Johnstone’s Paint, Crown Paints, Craig & Rose, Valspar and Little Greene, working in collaboration with retail partners including B&Q, Brewers Decorator Centres, Dulux Decorator Centres and Johnstone’s Decorating Centres.

CEO of the British Coatings Federation, Tom Bowtell, commented: “For too long, it has been too difficult for people to do the right thing with leftover paint. This trial marks a major step forward – not just for our industry, but for consumers and tradespeople who want simple, practical ways to reduce waste.

“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.”