Look at the wall in front of you. The answer is probably staring you in the face – paint.
Paint features in just about every design project, but how often do you consider its properties beyond colour and performance? What about its environmental credentials and sustainability?
Harmful ingredients
Conventional, acrylic-based paints contain two potentially harmful components: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and acrylic softeners. Both escape into the atmosphere during painting and, for many years after application, contribute to greenhouse gases. These toxic ingredients can also find their way into drains and groundwater when washing out brushes and disposing of paint tins in landfill. As well as being harmful to the environment, they can cause chest complaints, aggravate allergies and cause sick building syndrome (SBS).
Acrylic-based paints can also adversely affect walls. It is now widely recognised that they prevent a wall from breathing, which can lead to moisture damage such as blown plaster.
Sustainable specification
High levels of VOCs generally are associated with oil-based paints, but they are found to varying degrees even in water-based paints. The EU limit for paints to be classed as minimal VOC is 30g/L. However, this is relatively high compared to the value that environmentalists recommend and which can be found among a new breed of environmentally-friendly paints. It is advisable to seek out those containing a maximum of just 0.5g/L VOC.
The easiest way to ensure you’re creating a sustainable, environmentally-sound specification is to check the paint is EU Ecolabel-approved. This stringent standard covers every aspect of a product’s manufacture, use and disposal.
Earthborn’s paints have achieved this demanding standard. Made without oils or acrylics, they are virtually VOC-free and highly breathable. That means they do not give off any toxic emissions, so are much better for the environment, as well as the health of building occupants. The breathability means moisture can permeate out through the paint, preventing damage to walls and significantly reducing their maintenance lifecycle.
Aesthetics and performance
You do not need to sacrifice quality or aesthetics for environmental benefits. Carefully selected ingredients and technologically-advanced manufacturing processes create stylish, high-performance products that are safer to use and sound for the environment.
Claypaint, for example, is a unique, clay-based emulsion that is highly breathable, covers exceptionally well and gives a distinctive ultra-matt finish. More commonly used on plastered walls, it works equally well on timber substrates.
Earthborn’s Ecopro Trade Paint range features matt and low sheen water-based emulsions, as well as an ‘Eggshell’. Highly breathable and odour-free, their unique formulations cover well and are durable. Eggshell’s smooth, flexible finish allows wood to breathe and will not fade or discolour with time.
Ecopro paints are available in the full BS4800 colour range, while Claypaint has a signature palette of 72 inspirational shades. Bespoke colours can be developed through Earthborn’s nationwide network of stockists.