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In 1988, the National Lead Company, which had by then rebranded as NL Industries, took significant steps regarding its paint sector. The company decided to divest its paint business, which was historically associated with the production of lead-based paints. This move was part of a broader strategy to refocus its operations and distance itself from the growing liabilities and negative publicity associated with lead paint and its health and environmental impacts.
The divestiture involved selling its paint operations, including the well-known Dutch Boy Paints brand. Dutch Boy Paints, which had been a major product line for the company, was sold to Sherwin-Williams, a leading player in the paint and coatings industry. This sale allowed NL Industries to concentrate on its other industrial activities and address the financial and legal challenges stemming from its past involvement in the lead paint industry.
The decision to exit the paint business marked a pivotal shift for NL Industries, reflecting the broader industry trend of phasing out lead-based products in response to increasing regulatory scrutiny and public health concerns. This move also represented an effort by the company to mitigate its exposure to ongoing and future litigation related to lead poisoning and environmental contamination.