Brush up on your eco-paints
Eco-paints explained: a safer choice for people and our planet?
A fresh coat of paint is a simple way to refresh tired walls and revamp rooms. But standard paints can be hazardous to both human health and the environment. Perhaps as we become more aware of the dangers, more of us might seek safer “eco” options.
How standard paints can be harmful
Don’t be fooled by natural sounding names such as Spring Meadow, Willow tree or Forest Glade – regular household paints can be a cocktail of toxic chemicals, including heavy metals, formaldehyde, solvents and biocides. That’s why leftover paint should never be poured down your sink or drain. Standard oil-based paint is flammable and dangerous to add to your plumbing system as its fumes can be released into your home, coat the inside of pipes, or even ignite. Nor should it be put down a roadside drain either as it can easily leech into the water supply or contaminate the ground. Check with your local council for a safe place to dispose of half-empty tins, such as a household recycling centre. Oil-based and solvent-based paints must usually be disposed of as hazardous materials.
What does eco-paint mean exactly?
Eco-paint is an umbrella term. There is no clear or consistent definition. Some brands that market their paints as environmentally friendly will just have lower levels of potentially harmful chemicals known as VOCs (volatile organic chemicals). VOCs are solvents added to paints for fluidity and to make them dry quicky. Specialist eco-paint manufacturers go further, relying more on non-toxic, natural ingredients, such as plants, chalk and clay, while seeking to ensure responsible sourcing and carbon neutrality in manufacture.
Why is solvent-free important?
Solvent or oil-based paints release VOCs during the drying process after the coating is applied – they are the culprits behind the strong smell. Once in the atmosphere, VOCs can damage the ozone layer, a cause of global warming. Paints and varnishes cause as much as five per cent of all VOC emissions, according to one study by CEPE (European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ colours).
Breathing in oil-based or solvent paint fumes can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, trigger allergies and asthma as well as irritate skin and eyes. That’s why it’s so important to make sure windows and doors are open when rooms are painted. Some paints continue to ‘off-gas’ for many days or even weeks.
Farrow and Ball were the first major manufacture to make all its paint range water-based with minimal or low VOC content, including eggshell and gloss finishes.
Benefits of low VOC paints
In addition to being better for people and the planet, low-VOC tend to be quick drying, low odour, non-yellowing and with increased UV resistance. The level of VOC in paint is currently regulated by the Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Regulations 2012. These limit the maximum VOC content for water-based and solvent-based paints and varnishes. For example, matt emulsion for interior walls and ceilings must contain less than 30g/ litre. Higher levels are allowed for exterior walls and interior coatings for wood trim.
Water-based paints are a more eco-friendly choice than solvent-based or oil-based coatings. Check the VOC content on the tin. It is a legal requirement for paint labelling to state the VOC content. Often this is expressed as a percentage with less than 0.29% classed as minimal and .3 – 7.99% as low. Some brands with significantly below the minimum levels market their paints as “virtually VOC-free.”
For a greener home, other chemicals to avoid include plastics and petrochemicals, for example in vinyl and acrylic paints.
Are natural paints always more eco-friendly?
The word ‘natural’ is often used interchangeably with eco-friendly or healthy. But some traditional natural ingredients in paint can be toxic. Lead (a natural element) was added to paints as a pigment and drying agent. The sale of lead-based paint in the UK was finally banned in 1992, though it may still be found in older homes. Breathing in lead fumes or paint can cause serious health problems, such as kidney and brain damage and infertility.
Always check what’s in a pot of paint. Specialist eco-paint manufacturer Earthborn Paints has a full list of ingredients on its tins to help you make an informed choice. Lakeland Paints, another leading eco-paint manufacturer, promises “no VOCs, no heavy metals, no solvents, no bad stuff.” The company website lists the ingredients in its paints, including water, limestone, clays, wood, red and yellow ochre pigments. Founder, Ian West, is willing to put his money where his mouth is. He was filmed eating a spoonful of his matt wall paint for a YouTube video – a stunt he has repeated many times.
All eco-paints contain some synthetic components as necessity. For instance, low VOC water-based paints require a preservative to keep them fresh.
What else contributes to a paint’s green credentials?
While the appeal of eco-paint typically focuses on low levels of VOC and natural or non-toxic ingredients, there is also the carbon footprint of your paint to consider. This involves looking at the whole life cycle impact of the product on the planet. Is the paint made in the UK? Are ingredients responsibly and locally sourced, how is the factory powered, what are the company’s waste reduction policies, does it use sustainable and recyclable packaging?
Little Green’s water-based paints are reckoned to be among the industry’s most eco-friendly. The company was the first UK paint manufacturer to achieve the European environmental standard BS EN ISO 14001 – putting environmental management at the heart of its operations. Its oil-based paints have been reformulated using sustainable vegetable oils. All the paints are made in the UK, using natural, organic pigments while tins are 50% recycled metal.
Look out for different accreditations to show independent verification and testing of a paint’s eco credentials. For example, German eco-paint AURO has a stamp of approval from AgBB, the European test scheme for emissions from construction products. Other accreditations include A+ or A++ for interior air quality and EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence.
When shopping for eco-paint it’s essential to read labels on tins to see what it means exactly for a product. Check the VOC level, full list of ingredients and accreditations. Company websites are another useful source of information.