10180520Development of Radiative Cooling Coatings from Waste PaintClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThis project explores the development of the world's first recycled radiative cooling paint -- it can cool surfaces by over 5°C below ambient, save over 20% in cooling energy use, all while upcycling waste decorative paint. Radiative cooling materials work by reflecting sunlight and emitting heat to the sky, reducing the need for air conditioning and improving thermal comfort without using energy. While these materials have been used in virgin formulations, they have never been applied to recycled paints - a low-cost, circular feedstock with significant environmental potential. The UK generates over 34 million litres of leftover decorative paint each year, most of which ends up in landfill or incineration. This project aims to transform that waste stream into a high-performance coating that supports Net Zero goals, reduces energy demand, and promotes circular manufacturing. Led by Emissiv, a climate-tech startup based at Imperial College London, the project brings together technical expertise, industry partnerships, and academic support. Emissiv is the first research group at Imperial focused on radiative cooling, and is helping build national capability in sustainable coatings. The team will work with UK paint to source remanufactured paint bases, and will conduct lab testing at Imperial's Incubator Lab and the Henry Royce Institute. The project is supported by the British Coatings Federation (BCF) and PaintCare UK, who are helping connect the team with recyclers, remanufacturers, and regulatory stakeholders. Together, these partners are exploring how recycled paints can be enhanced and repurposed for high-value applications in construction, energy infrastructure, transport, and logistics. If successful, the paint could be used on rooftops, facades, substations, battery systems, and cold-chain vehicles - reducing cooling loads, improving thermal stability, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The public health benefits are also significant: by helping mitigate the urban heat island effect, the technology could reduce heat stress, improve wellbeing, and ease pressure on the NHS. This feasibility study will generate lab-tested samples, technical insights, and a route to commercialisation. It lays the foundation for a scalable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly solution that turns waste into climate impact - supporting UK leadership in sustainable materials innovation and delivering long-term benefits for councils, industry, and the public.