Paint it in any colour, so long as it’s green

publication date: Jul 9, 2008

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author/source: David Harris

With no toxic by-products and no complex chemical processing, proponents of natural paints claim that they make minimal impact on the environment.

The green register – www.greenregister.org.uk –puts it simply: “Specify natural materials to minimise embodied energy, especially where the cost differential is small. For example, 95% of a painting and decorating budget is labour, so specify natural paints where possible to create healthy indoor environments and to avoid using petroleum based ingredients.”

According to the green building store – www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk - “Ordinary paints are manufactured from complex, synthetic chemicals. Many of these can be damaging to your health or the environment. Natural paints are different. The ingredients are based on plant oils and extracts, and simple minerals.”

Paint has three major components: a pigment for colour and obliteration; a binder that holds the pigment to the surface to which it is applied; and a carrier to maintain the pigment and binder in liquid form.

Synthetic resin dispersion paints, introduced in the fifties during the post-war construction boom, were comparatively straightforward to produce and quickly set the standard for internal and external wall coatings throughout the world. Commercial paints have included petrochemicals, solvents, mercury, formaldehyde, benzene, defoamers, stabilisers, preservatives and other sundry chemicals. Additionally, lead, cadmium and chromium can often be found in the pigments. Titanium dioxide, for example, can account for approximately 25% of the paint by weight. As concerns about possible health risks became more widespread, a market grew up for “natural” coatings made from biodegradable, natural ingredients. These “greener” decorating products use active ingredients from renewable plants and trees to create the three necessary elements of paint; binder, carrier and pigment.

Binders in the form of drying oils can be obtained from linseed oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, dehydrated castor oil and wood oil. Plant terpenes, such as orange peel oil, are widely utilised as a carrier; while the pigments are derived from various sources such as inorganic earth pigments. Common pigments include titanium dioxide, chrome oxide and iron oxide and there are even some plant-derived pigments.

Of course, industrial manufacturers claim that all is not as straightforward as some in the green building movement would have us believe. ICI claims that using a durable high quality paint, such as Dulux Trade Weathershield, can increase the amount of time a building can be left between maintenance cycles. This reduces impact on the environment by reducing the number of miles required to be travelled by decorator’s vans, etc. Dulux advises that specifying water-based formulations that have a lower carbon footprint due to the replacement of oil-based solvents with water. ICI also defends the use of titanium dioxide instead of ‘natural’ alternatives. “The problem with Titanium Dioxide is that it requires a lot of energy to produce. We have not found any ‘natural’ alternatives that perform in an acceptable way in achieving good opacity. ‘Natural’ paints also use Titanium Dioxide because it is not yet replaceable without unacceptable reduction in opacity.”

ICI also defends the use synthetic binders and resins. “In our experience we have not found any natural alternatives that meet performance requirements of trade paints. For example, some take days to dry.”

Dulux also urges caution when considering the claims made for some natural paints. “The British Standard durability tests that were carried out on a number of leading ‘natural’ paints have shown them to have lower levels of durability than their alternative standard paint. Similarly, the British Standard opacity tests found them to have a lower opacity rating than equivalent Dulux Trade products. In terms of reducing environmental impact, the best approach is to use paints that are long lasting and that cover well, as these factors reduce the amount of paint and painting undertaken during the lifetime of a building.

In comparison paints that have a poor durability or poor opacity, features of many 'natural' paints, require whole maintenance cycle processes to be carried out more frequently as more paint has to be used. In conclusion, paints that cover well will require fewer coats or alternatively less material, to achieve a high quality finish, ultimately being more environmentally friendly.”

What is not in dispute is that the natural paint market has mushroomed over the past decade. The Green Building Store’s portfolio is a good example, featuring a choice of well established manufacturers that are said to offer proven track records of developing some of the best products in their class. These include Biofa Natural Paints from German manufacturer Biofa Naturprodukte GmbH that have been extensively specified since the early 1970s for commercial use throughout much of Europe. Also in the range are OS Color formulations from Ostermann and Scheiwe. Using natural oils and waxes, they were developed in the 1960s for their durability and have since been extensively specified for many projects in the UK.

Also part of the Green Building Store’s offer are products from Ecosolutions. This British company produces a range of ultra-safe water-based paint strippers and similar products. With ingredients such as chalk, clay, linseed and bergamot oil, natural emulsion paints can be used whenever a conventional paints would be used. Brands include Levasol (formerly Ecosol) and Primasol. Primasol is said to produce a tough, hardwearing matt wall finish, comparable with conventional synthetic emulsions. Levasol is a matt emulsion similar to Primasol but not as tough or hardwearing.

Ecos organic solvent-free paints and varnishes are available in 108 co-ordinated colours. The versatility is confirmed by the choice of finishes: matt, soft sheen, super chalky and eggshell wall paints: plus gloss and satin-gloss wood finishes, gloss, satin, matt varnishes and many more speciality finishes. With zero VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), Ecos paints are ideal for children's bedrooms, nurseries and kitchens.

One of the latest formulations is Ecos Insulating Matt Wallpaint available in white and 76 colours. Also available from Ecos is Feng Shui: a multi-surface coating for walls and woodwork that lends a harmonious feel. It has a smooth, shell like surface; ideal for kitchens and bathrooms ECOS At the cutting edge of alternative formulation is Ecos Radiation Shielding Wallpaint. This is claimed to offer up to 98% shielding against ELF/VLF/EMR radiation and needs no special equipment or expertise. This super-conductive wallpaint uses non-toxic nickel pigment to provide a shield against electrical and, like all Ecos products, is odourless and solvent-free.

Another cutting-edge formulation is Ecos Atmosphere Purifying Paint which is said to absorb and neutralise chemicals and pollutants, solvents and VOC's from the atmosphere in your home down to approx. one part per million. Ecos claims that, unlike air purifying units, it requires no power supply, maintenance or filters. Simply apply as normal wall paint and when dry, it will absorb pollutants 24 hours a day all year round. The company claims that it absorbs 98 to 99% of volatile pollutants down to approx. one part per million. Ecos also has an MDF Passivating Primer to cope with the fact that MDF and other boards can outgas formaldehyde and other VOCs.

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