Top coats are essential in textile and leather finishing, forming the final layer that influences gloss, hand feel, scratch resistance, and durability. Traditionally reliant on solvent-based systems, top coats have historically contributed to air pollution, workplace hazards, and waste management challenges. The shift to water-based alternatives represents a major advancement in sustainable finishing. Water-based top coats significantly reduce VOC emissions and eliminate hazardous solvents, improving air quality in production facilities and decreasing environmental impact. These formulations offer comparable performance in terms of flexibility, adhesion, and durability, and are increasingly engineered to meet high aesthetic and tactile expectations. Their compatibility with other water-based finishing agents also supports integrated, low-impact processing lines. Adoption is further driven by regulatory compliance requirements, certifications such as OEKO-TEX® and bluesign®, and corporate sustainability goals. Through B2B platforms, manufacturers can identify water-based top coat solutions tailored to specific applications, ensuring high-quality finishes aligned with environmental responsibility.