Industry experts report on the strides being made in the paint industry to make it more green
FEATURE RODDY CLARKE
IN order to reduce the environmental impact of paint – including the microplastic pollution from the acrylic binders that replaced banned toxic lead alternatives – change is happening and it’s starting with natural, fossil fuel-free ingredients. Edward Bulmer, the visionary behind Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, states that for consumers buying paint it is important to select paints where the ingredients are clearly listed and his company is embracing change. ‘Through gentle chemistry, we have developed a paint that does not contain any fossil fuel- derived ingredients, so by making the switch from paint made from plastics to paint made from plants it contributes to a much greener industry.’ The brand is continuing its development towards being fully fossil fuel free as it still has one eggshell finish that requires some fossil carbon in its production for durability. ‘We are working hard to change this but will always put performance first.’
With durability removing the need for regular recoating, Tom Bowtell, the CEO of the British Coatings Federation (BCF), also comments how important it is to look at the whole life cycle of any paint. ‘If a coating is more durable and needs replacing less often, then this has to be taken into account, too,’ he says. In trying to offer further transparency for consumers, the organisation also has a Green Claims outline which is a helpful tool in deciphering and understanding what prevalent terms on tins really mean.
Another first indicator to look out for when buying paint is its level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). While regulation has come in to curb the inclusion of such hazardous ingredients, it should be less than 0.1%. Ben Sturges, the director of Graphenstone paints, also refers to other chemicals such as benzene, toluene and xylene, which pose risks to human health. Similarly helping to redefine what healthy paint truly is, Graphenstone is utilising modern technology through the inclusion of graphene, which removes the need for some of the additi
