In the 21st century, with the increasing global awareness of environmental protection, various industries are actively exploring the path of green and sustainable development. The paint industry, as an important component of the chemical industry, is no exception. Leveling agents, as key additives in coating formulations, also need to follow the principle of green sustainability in their future development direction.

With the increasingly strict environmental regulations, traditional high VOC (volatile organic compound) leveling agents are gradually being phased out. Instead, low VOC, non-toxic, harmless, and environmentally friendly green leveling agents have been used. These green leveling agents not only meet environmental requirements, but also have performance comparable to traditional leveling agents, and even surpass them in some aspects. In the future, the research and development of green leveling agents will pay more attention to the use of bio based raw materials, and develop more environmentally friendly and efficient leveling agent products through methods such as biological fermentation and natural plant extraction.

While pursuing green and sustainable development, the performance requirements for leveling agents in the coating industry are constantly increasing. Future leveling agents not only need to have excellent leveling performance, but also need to have good weather resistance, water resistance, chemical resistance, and so on. Therefore, the innovation of high-performance and green leveling agents will become an important direction for future development. Through the latest research achievements in nanotechnology, polymer materials science, and other fields, new leveling agents with special functions can be developed, such as self-healing leveling agents, antibacterial leveling agents, etc., to meet the urgent demand of the coating industry for high-performance coatings.

Circular economy is an economic model that centers on efficient and circular utilization of resources. Introducing the concept of circular economy in the production process of leveling agents can achieve the conservation of raw materials and the resource utilization of waste. For example, by recycling and reusing waste such as wastewater and exhaust gas generated during the production process, not only can environmental pollution be reduced, but production costs can also be lowered. In the future, with the deepening development of circular economy, the production of leveling agents will pay more attention to resource conservation and environmental protection, promoting the development of the coating industry towards a greener and more sustainable direction.

The support of government policies and the drive of the market are also indispensable factors for the green and sustainable development of leveling agents. The government can encourage enterprises to develop and apply green leveling agents by formulating stricter environmental regulations, providing tax incentives and other policy measures. At the same time, the market demand for green coatings will also drive the green development of leveling agents. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection among consumers, the market share of green coatings will continue to increase, thereby driving the market demand for green leveling agents.

The green and sustainable development path of future leveling agents is an inevitable trend in the future of the coating industry. Through the research and application of green leveling agents, innovation in high-performance and green leveling agents, the application of circular economy in leveling agent production, as well as policy support and market driven efforts, we can promote the development of the coating industry towards a greener and more sustainable direction, and contribute to the protection of the earth's environment.