SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO

Sherwin-Williams has a well-documented legacy of environmental damage through decades of lead paint production and marketing despite knowledge of its toxicity. In 2000, Santa Clara County filed a landmark lawsuit against Sherwin-Williams and other manufacturers for promoting lead paint for residential use while knowing the product was highly toxic, particularly to children. A 2014 trial resulted in a $1.15 billion verdict (later reduced to $409 million on appeal). In 2019, Sherwin-Williams, Conagra Brands, and NL Industries settled for $305 million, payable over six years, to fund lead paint remediation in homes across 10 California jurisdictions including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland counties. Sherwin-Williams has separately fought to have insurers cover its lead paint liabilities, with courts ruling against the company. The company is also flagged by ChemScore for managing 25 SIN List (Substitute It Now) hazardous chemical substances and 3 persistent chemicals in its product portfolio. The lead paint litigation represents one of the largest public health environmental damage cases in U.S. history, with ongoing remediation obligations.