Circularity in pigment, resin and coating supply chains: a structured evidence synthesis and decision framework

Purpose This study aims to critically review and synthesize how circular-economy mechanisms can be applied to pigment, resin and coating supply chains while preserving formulation performance and chemical safety. It asks which material and supply-chain mechanisms are supported, when they deliver environmental and economic benefit, and which governance and digital conditions are required for implementation. Design/methodology/approach A structured narrative review was conducted using Crossref, Google Scholar, publisher platforms and backward citation searching. Thirty core evidence records published through 2025 were retained after a citation-level relevance audit. Sources were classified by sector directness, evidence design, geographical context, technology maturity, functional unit or decision boundary and reporting transparency. The manuscript reports the complete search syntax and includes the full evidence extraction in the appendix. Because historical query-level exports were not retained, identification and screening counts were not retrospectively reconstructed. Findings The quantitative evidence is case-specific. In one Italian comparative LCA of two paints, a waste-paint option reduced assessed impacts by approximately 48% on average under the study assumptions. A separate Italian cradle-to-gate study of 21 mural paints reported 1.03 ± 0.60 kg CO2-eq per kg paint and an upstream contribution above 70%. In a global inventory-based coating study using annual world coating demand as the functional unit, epoxy resin, TiO2, acrylic resin and metallic zinc dust together contributed more than 53% in most ReCiPe 2016 categories; direct coating manufacture and most downstream processes were outside that boundary. Circularity therefore depends on performance retention, restricted-substance control, collection quality, verified virgin-material substitution and context-specific LCA–TEA rather than recovery rate alone. Originality/value The review differs from generic circular-supply-chain reviews and narrower coating reviews by mapping pigment characteristics, resin and coating performance, reverse logistics, LCA, TEA, hazardous-substance governance and digital traceability into a single evidence-derived decision sequence. The framework is a synthesis for prospective application, not an independently validated industrial model; its gates and measurable criteria are made explicit and illustrated with a waste-paint remanufacturing example.