At US $2.2 trillion, the annual cost of corrosion worldwide is over 3% of the world’s GDP. Protecting metals from corrosion is achieved most efficiently with polymeric coatings. However, most coatings require the use of organic solvents with negative impact on the health of workers and the environment. Water-borne coatings are environ-mentally friendly alternatives but show poorer anticorrosive performance. We develop “smart water-borne coatings” with enhanced anticorrosive properties based on corrosion inhibitor filled nanocapsules.