The managing director of Chemical and Allied Products Plc, Bolarin Okunowo, has urged African designers, architects, and builders to embrace innovative, sustainable materials that balance aesthetics with environmental responsibility.
Okunowo made the call during Design Week Lagos 2025, Africa’s leading design and innovation showcase.
Delivering a keynote presentation titled ‘Colour, Materials & Innovation in Our Built Environment’, Okunowo outlined how CAP’s flagship brand, Dulux, is driving transformation across the continent through low-emission coatings, digital access tools, and colour systems designed specifically for African climates and cultural preferences.
She stated, “The future of the built environment will be shaped by materials that are not just beautiful, but also smart, efficient, and sustainable.”
Okunowo highlighted CAP’s continuous investment in low-VOC coatings, which were developed to improve indoor air quality and align with global green building standards.
She spotlighted the Dulux Tint-Base System, launched in 2022, which enables customers to instantly access thousands of shades at our stores nationwide.
Okunowo also spotlighted CAP’s Surface Preparation range – Caplux. Okunowo noted that achieving the perfect topcoat finish begins with proper surface preparation.
She explained that the actual colour on the surface is a function of what happens below the surface. She noted that well-prepared walls and surfaces are essential to achieving desired finishes that stand the test of time, a technical expertise that Caplux Surface Prep is proud to bring to every project.
Further underscoring CAP’s innovation journey, Okunowo unveiled the revamped Dulux e-commerce platform, a digital solution that simplifies paint selection and purchase for customers nationwide.
“The platform enables professionals and homeowners to explore, choose, and order their preferred colours seamlessly, directly bringing Dulux’s trusted quality to their doorsteps.
“Sustainability is not just about what we build, but how we enable others to build responsibly. Through innovation and digital access, we are making sustainable design solutions more inclusive and accessible across Africa,” she added.
Beyond sustainability, Okunowo emphasised the power of colour to transform spaces and shape experiences, stating that “colour not only transforms spaces, but it also influences emotion, productivity, and identity.
“At Dulux, we have spent decades studying how colour interacts with light, culture, and climate to help our customers express who they are.”
CAP PLC hosted an interactive booth featuring its latest Dulux product innovations and colour technologies throughout the week-long exhibition. The company also engaged design professionals in business-to-business sessions exploring colour psychology, climate resilience, and sustainable surface preparation.
CAP Plc’s participation marks its second consecutive year partnering with Design Week Lagos, reinforcing its purpose of ‘Creating A New Africa Inspired by Colours’ and its continued commitment to driving sustainability, creativity, and innovation across the continent’s built environment.
