Eco-friendly paints
What are they?
Eco-friendly paints are made from natural materials and therefore contain very few or no chemicals. By contrast, conventional ones are usually petroleum-based with chemicals which emit toxic fumes.
These chemicals are known as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which can aggravate allergies, cause chest complaints and pollute the environment. The higher the VOC content, the higher the carbon emissions created by the chemical compounds used in the product.
Many of the conventional paint manufacturers produce an 'eco' range. They are sometimes labelled as 'natural', 'eco', 'low in VOCs', 'zero VOCs', 'VOC free' or 'breathable'. So how do you know what's truly eco-friendly?
Check the VOC content
Since 1 January 2006, all paint manufacturers have had to declare the quantity of VOCs on the labelling of their products. It states whether the VOC content is very high, high, medium, low or minimal.
Bear in mind that VOCs are necessary in some types of paint, for example high gloss, for them to perform well.
While eco-friendly products have a very low VOC content or no VOCs at all, many conventional ones, especially emulsions which are advertised as low-odour, are also low in VOCs.
So while the labelling of VOCs is useful in understanding the quantity of chemicals, a better way to determine if a paint is really eco-friendly is to check the ingredients.
Look at the ingredients
It's second nature to check the ingredients of food or drink before buying, so get into the habit of doing the same with paint. Any company with serious eco-credentials will list the ingredients on the tin, on its website or in its brochures.
Eco-friendly paints are made from natural materials such as chalk, china clay, linseed oil, lime putty and casein (milk proteins). Naturally occurring pigments, such as umbers and ochres, are used to colour these products.
Why choose an eco-friendly paint?
If you, or any of your family, suffer from asthma or other allergies, using eco-friendly paints is likely to have a beneficial effect. This is because most allergies caused by conventional paint are a reaction to the solvents or synthetic resins used as an ingredient. While there is a far smaller risk of aggravating allergies using eco-friendly versions, some people may still be affected by the natural ingredients such as essential, or plant-based oils. For this reason, as with any paint, you should try using a small sample first to gauge whether allergies will be triggered by it.
When renovating and decorating a period house, it's essential to allow the building to breathe; especially if there has been a damp problem in the past. Most eco-friendly paints, particularly clay or lime-based ones, are highly breathable, making them ideal for older properties. They also contain many of the same natural materials which were used prior to the introduction of petro-chemicals to the paint industry.
If you're concerned about reducing your household's carbon footprint, using eco-friendly paints will definitely help. This is because those with a lower VOC content will release fewer carbon emissions.
How to use them
The majority of eco-friendly paints can be applied in the same way as conventional ones, using a brush, roller or spray. The exception is casein paint, which is in a powder form and requires mixing with water. You should always check the manufacturer's instructions before you
start painting.
