The paper discusses results from a July 1991 workshop and the progress that has been made in advancing the technology of surface-coating-free materials (SCFMs). The workshop identified opportunities for the development of SCFMs being used by industries and recommended ways for increasing the use of SCFMs by other industries. In addition, the workshop offered the opportunity for the exchange and the development of innovative concepts related to SCFMs. Coating operations release about 15% of stationary area source volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Many of these sources cannot be impacted by add-on controls at a reasonable cost due to their small size and/or the difficulty of capturing emissions. In addition, not only do emissions occur during initial coating, they occur each time the surface is recoated. If materials or products could be developed which do not need coating during either manufacture or use (SCFMs), VOC emissions could be reduced significantly. The U.S. ambient air quality standard for ozone (0.12 ppm) is exceeded in over 100 areas in the country. Extensive reduction of VOC emissions is required for attainment. The difficulty of dealing with stationary area sources has been a major obstacle to attaining these reductions. Area sources may contribute as much as 50% of U.S. VOC emissions.