The scheme operates across all Crown Decorating Centres and was the first in the industry to allow painters and decorators to return empty plastic and metal paint cans from any brand, free of charge to be recycled responsibly.

The recycling is facilitated by NIMTECH, a social enterprise providing waste recovery and recycling services based at Crown Paints’ Hull and Darwen manufacturing sites.

 It employs marginalised individuals and trains them in waste recovery, recycling paint cans, as well as wider manufacturing waste, and supporting a circular economy.

The paint manufacturer now hopes to recycle an additional 1.4 million cans throughout 2024.

Naiem Wafa, managing director at Crown Decorating Centres said: “This is such a significant milestone on our journey to creating a more sustainable decorating industry.

“Recycling more than 1.3 million paint cans last year is a testament to not only our dedication to waste reduction but to that of the decorators that recycle their cans at our Crown Decorating Centres – and I’m keen to see this momentum continue.”

Since launching the scheme in 2013, Crown has seen an increase in the number of trade customers who utilise the service each year, as well as the total number of cans processed through the programme.

Last year, Crown extended the recycling service to include empty caulk tubes following feedback from industry professionals.

Five years ago, Crown became the first paint brand in the UK to use 100% post-consumer waste plastic packaging for its core-ready mixed emulsion collection and is committed to reducing the volume of virgin plastic procured across all its packaging supplies.