What you ought to know about antimicrobial lacquers

So we’d like to provide a brief definition of the term at this point. In the case of antimicrobial products, this involves distinguishing between solutions that have an antibacterial effect and those that have an antiviral effect. Most enquiries currently relate to antibacterial products. Products equipped in this way are in fact only effective against bacteria and not against viruses. Why does this difference matter? Because the effective mechanisms are different. Bacteria have their own metabolism and can multiply outside a host body. A colony of bacteria can therefore increase given a suitable source of nutrient on a surface (such as body fluids). Viruses don’t have their own metabolism, so they can’t reproduce on surfaces. They depend on having a host organism within which they can reproduce.

Using antibacterial products to combat the coronavirus is therefore pointless.

The use of antibacterial products in the customary areas of application for our products, such as on interior doors, flooring, furniture and other fittings, is unnecessary for several reasons and at best offers the consumer a false sense of security. Many tests relating to the issue of formulating our products with antibacterial properties indicate to us that our products demonstrate the same behaviour regarding bacterial growth both with and without such formulation. Lacquered surfaces generally exhibit antibacterial properties. This has been confirmed by an independent external test centre. It’s due to the fact that, compared to textiles for example, the surfaces involved are usually smooth and highly cross-linked. Figuratively speaking, the bacteria dry out on this type of surface before they can massively multiply. There can of course be major contamination on surfaces that could potentially pose a hazard. At this point, however, even the antibacterial coating would fail.

The proof of efficacy in this case is already much more difficult than with bacteria. The experts don’t even currently agree on how long a coronavirus remains potentially hazardous on a surface. Fragments of viral genetic material can be found for a relatively long time, but it’s difficult to say whether this poses a risk. Their lifespan outside their host is usually very limited. There are moreover very many types of viruses, and whether a chemical works effectively to combat the virus at hand is unknown. Not even the manufacturers of these antiviral additives will provide a guarantee. There is to date very little evidence for some specific viruses. When it comes to statements about the coronavirus, the tendency is to say: “It works against virus X, so it could also work against Y”. The lack of a vaccine against the current strain of coronavirus shows that the viruses cannot be considered the same even when they are similar. There is a flu vaccination, but not yet a coronavirus vaccination. We do of course hope that the announced vaccine will be able to start its triumphant march in 2021.

What is known, however, is that regular cleaning can combat viruses.

This especially includes regular washing of our hands and the regular cleaning of surfaces. The usual disinfectants can naturally also be used here.

That’s why we want to help prevent people from being lulled into a false sense of security and continuing to pollute the environment with questionable substances. This is what we understand under responsible and sustainable action.