Can you buy good quality and “healthy” paint that doesn’t do harm to you or the environment? The Spring Hill “Enviro-Cottage” Project explores the options.
As if working through pages of colour charts to select one of 40 ‘whites’ wasn’t already hard enough, now a considered environmental choice requires you to understand the contents of the can as well, and unfortunately, there are not yet any labelling standards to help.
At one time, paints contained up to 50% lead. In the 1960s paint containing 1% lead was still freely available. Better understanding of the related health issues resulted in changes to regulations.
But aren’t today’s paints completely “safe” and harmless to the environment? Unfortunately not, and many paints available today could still be regarded as toxic. “Painter’s syndrome” is still prevalent, with symptoms including asthma, emphysema, dermatitis, headaches and nausea.
This is because many paints still contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), or petroleum-based solvents. Some oil based paints can contain up to 50% solvent content. Until recently VOCs were considered essential to the performance of paints. These standard paints though can release low level toxic emissions into the air as the paint dries and for years after application. It has been shown that 70% of the indoor air pollutants are made up of VOCs emitted from paint. If paint contains 50% solvents, 2 litres out of every 4 litres you use will go straight into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. And you thought you were just putting it on the wall!
Research has concluded that paint is responsible for producing the second highest total volume of hydrocarbon air pollution (behind car exhaust fumes). We’re starting to change the type of cars we drive, so perhaps we now also need to change the types of paints we use.
Paint fumes are unhealthy, triggering respiratory reactions including asthma, bronchitis and breathing discomfort as well as permanent liver and kidney damage and neurological problems. When not disposed of correctly paints can also pollute our waterways.
New regulations and consumer demand has encouraged the development of low or no VOC paints and finishes. Even the biggest of paint manufacturers usually provide some choice in this area, but watch out for low odour paints which still have significant VOC content. Technology has now improved the performance of no-VOC paints so that they are durable, cost-effective, with wide colour choices and with the obvious health and environmental advantages.
The main benefits of a no VOC paint choice is the reduced toxins for everyone – from factory workers, to shop attendants, painters and residents. There is no odour during application and greenhouse emissions are eliminated. You can move in straight away as there are no nasty odours. There is no loss of performance – look, feel, washability, durability etc. Water based also means easier cleanup.
But are no VOC paints enough? Do we package paints the most environmentally effective way? How do we dispose of paint tins, brushes, paint trays and rollers? Can new employment options be created to deliver new environmentally sensitive paint lifecycle benefits? Do paints provide as much as they could or should in terms of insulation qualities? Could paints contribute in other ways to energy saving or even energy generation?
The Spring Hill “Enviro-Cottage” Project has selected ROCKCOTE as their paints and other finishes partner. ROCKCOTE’s products have passed stringent Australian Standards tests and are as durable, cost effective, with an excellent colour choice. ROCKCOTE EcoStyle paint has been awarded the Good Environmental Choice Label (the only environmental labelling program in Australia) which indicates the environmental performance of a product from a “whole of product life” perspective. Their paints have also been approved for interior use by the National Asthma Council of Australia. ROCKCOTE are a local Queensland company too.
To see ROCKCOTE’s zero-VOC paints and finishes in action, drop into the award winning Design Centre at the Gold Coast (brochure here) or wait for the Spring Hill “Enviro-Cottage” open days.
The ROCKCOTE paints will be provided to the “Enviro-Cottage” through The Green Paint Shop. The Green Paint Shop stocks a wide range of non toxic and environmentally friendly paints, finishes and timber treatments.
The ROCKCOTE paints and finishes will be applied by the Natural Painting People who are experts in applying non-toxic, eco friendly, zero VOC paints. If you want a high quality, low environmental impact and healthy painting job delivered, the Natural Painting People will help you out.
Paint technology and environmental sensitivity has come a long way and we are confident there is more to come yet. Consumer choice will accelerate this positive process.
Enviro Painting Recommendations:
- Look for high quality, no-VOC paints.
- Look for high solids content up to 45%+. The higher the solids the lower the VOCs.
- Only buy the amount of paint you need for the job – do the maths and believe the coverage advice on the tin.
- Don’t clean up brushes each day, wrap the brush in cling film and keep in a dark place overnight and re-use the next day – saves time, water and paint.
- Never sand areas of old lead paint – paint over it or wet the area and scrape off, or consult an expert.
- For long term storage, store unused paint in the tin upside down.
- Dispose of any unwanted paint, tools and packaging responsibly. Correct disposal in many respects is a more important environmental decision than the original paint choice.
In regards to this topic, we wish to make the following clarifications;
GreenPainters advises consumers to use paints which have been independantly certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia. This ensures that the paint has undergone rigorous testing of its manufacturing process. Just because a paint claims to be 'low-voc' doesn't mean it doesn't contain other chemicals such as biocides.
The VOCs that are emitted by paints are NOT greenhouse gases. Instead, they react in the atmosphere to form ozone, which is a smog producing compound. Eventually some of them may react to form extremely small quantities of greenhouse gases, but not to any significant degree. The main environmental impact of VOCs are the effect they have on Indoor air Quality, and general smog formation.
The sustainability of a coating should also be taken into account. Is it manufactured from renewable or highly abundant resources?
More more information about paints and sustainability, check the not-for-profit web-site www.greenpainters.com.au