6 Eco-Conscious Paints for Your Home
There are many reasons to consider eco-conscious paint for your next interior painting project. They obviously have less impact on the environment, but also have less toxins and harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs have been proven to lead to adverse health effects.
What is eco-conscious paint?
Eco-conscious paint is formulated with ingredients to lessen the negative impact of paint material on both the environment, and your home. Numerous studies about the effects of paint on the communities around us led to brands making eco-friendly paints, or whole new brands being born with an eco-conscious mindset.
Who defines a paint as eco-conscious?
There are many independent labels you can watch out for when deciding on a brand of eco-conscious paint.
First, Green Seal is a non-profit dedicated to empowering consumers to make sustainable, eco-friendly purchases. Paints with this label have no more than 50 to 100 VOCs per liter depending on the type of paint. These paints also use recycled compounds, reducing overall pollution. A full list of brands can be found on their website.
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is another company dedicated to neutral, third-party evaluations to determine the sustainability of a variety of companies. These paints meet indoor air quality standards, as well. They offer an indexed guide of green products for you to look through.
Why should you choose eco-conscious paint for your home?
Substantial evidence has shown that high exposure to VOCs, especially over a long period of time, causes negative symptoms. Higher rates of cancer, and respiratory symptoms are both correlated with exposure to VOCs. Families, especially those with young children, should consider choosing eco-conscious, low VOC paint for their home.
What is the standard VOC content for EPA regulated paint?
As of right now, the limitations on VOC content for paint is 100 grams to 250 grams per liter, for flat and glossy paint, respectively. That’s at least twice as much as the highest amount of low VOC paint with green labels. Unfortunately, there is no federal EPA regulation about the strict definition of low or no VOC paint, so be sure to read labels and determine VOC content for yourself.
Different types of eco-conscious paint
Not all paints have the same compounds, and each have varying impacts on the environment and your home. Before you decide on a brand, you need to decide what type of paint will work best for your project and home.
What are natural paints?
Exactly as they sound, natural paints are made from substances naturally found. By utilizing materials such as citrus and balsam, manufacturers make a petroleum-free paint. You can even make natural paint yourself at home. The only downside to natural paint is that they often use turpentine, which is a VOC derived from plants.
How eco-conscious is latex paint?
Some latex, or recycled latex paints are made with very low biocide and VOCs. You should avoid oil and solvent based paint, as both contain way more VOCs and are much more harmful to the environment and you. As with most paints, you should always read the information on the label. Some latex paint contains lead or mercury, more harmful substances you ought to avoid coming in regular contact with.
When should you use milk paint?
Traditionally, milk paint was used on colonial American furniture, and has been found on ancient Egyptian artifacts. Today, it is a beautiful finish on wood that contains no VOCs, and is completely odorless when dry. It is made out of milk protein, lime, pigments, and borax for preservation. Like natural paint, it can be made fairly simply at home.
It often comes in a powder form, and you mix it with water when you plan on using it. This makes it easily usable in small quantities, and is easier to store than large paint gallons.
Eco-conscious brands for your project
Old Crow Painting proudly uses Sherwin-Williams paints which have eco-friendly paint options for your project. Additionally, each of the following brands of eco-friendly paint are dedicated to lessening their impact on the environment, and sustainable business practices. Next time you’re buying paint for a project inside your home, give them a shot.
ECOS Paints
Established in 1985, ECOS Paints is dedicated to making customer’s homes toxin-free and offers a wide range of products for both interior and exterior surfaces. All of their paints are zero VOC, odorless, and non-toxic.
You can find their products here, with gallons starting at $69.95.
Farrow & Ball
From oil-based origins, Farrow & Ball moved their entire range of paints to low VOC, water-based finishes in 2010. For a decade now, they have been committed to environmental kindness for the good of all.
They also feature an online color consultancy straight from their website. If you need help picking that perfect shade for your living room, you never have to leave your home for expert advice!
Gallons starting at $110.00 can be found on their website, where you can also order samples.
CLARE Paints
All of CLARE’s paints are zero VOC and colorants, backed by the certification of GREENGUARD Gold. They pride themselves on making paint shopping as convenient and simple as possible. Customers can easily test colors at home with swatches that stick on your wall.
Prices start at $54.00 per gallon of paint, and can be ordered online.
Green Planet Paints
Founded in 1993, Green Planet Paints has gone through multiple product iterations. Their mission is to be ecologically responsible and provide a better future through sustainable products. They use a zero VOC, soy-based alkyd paint.
Gallons of Green Plant Paint start at $49.99, and are available at select retailers or through their website.
AURO
All of AURO’s paint products are natural paints, are made in their own plant, and are derived from plants and minerals. While some of their products use animal-derived ingredients, the vegan products are identifiable with a “vegan” icon on their website.
AURO’s standard paint gallons start at $48, and they offer multiple other environmentally friendly, children safe products.
The Real Milk Paint Co.
As the best place to find a wide range of colors for milk paint, The Real Milk Paint Co. has been making natural, traditional paint since 1995. Milk paint is eco-friendly, child-safe, non-toxic, and gives a unique finish that you can’t get from other eco-conscious paints.
Most gallons of their paint are $62.99, and they offer small samples for purchase before you commit. As a milk paint, it just requires water to be added before use. They also offer finishes, waxes, and oils, all of which are just as environmentally friendly as their paint.
When thinking about your next painting project, you’ll want to hire the best painters in Tampa. Old Crow Painting offers free estimates on any home, commercial, or industrial project. Give us a caw!