About Environmentally Friendly Paints
Decisions made in selecting an interior paint can have a significant impact on indoor air quality. Paints differ dramatically in the amounts of VOCs they emit over time.
Notes on Environmentally Friendly Paints**
Colorants add VOCs: Many colorants used to tint your low- or zero-VOC paints have their own level of VOCs. Be aware that colorants can chaange the documented VOC level and be sure to request a low- or zero-VOC colorant.
| Acrylic/Latex |
Natural |
Recycled |
Acrylic/Latex Paint
CSI Division: 099123 | Residential Category: Interior Paint
Acrylic or latex paints can be used on the interior or exterior of a home.
What Makes It A Green Product
- Acrylic paints with low and zero-VOCs are widely available.
- Latex is a washable, highly durable product that is available in a wide range of colors.
Negative Environmental Considerations
- Colorants used to tint new paints often have a seperate VOC level that is not accounted for when selecting low-VOC paints. You should tint your paint with low- or zero VOC colorants.
Natural Paints
CSI Division: 099123 | Residential Category: Interior Paint
Natural paints are made from natural raw ingredients such as water, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils; natural minerals such as clay, chalk and talcum; milk casein, natural latex, bees' wax, earth and mineral dyes instead of being chemically synthesized.
What Makes It A Green Product
- Reduces waste and pollution by reducing the use of petroleum-based solvents.
- Water-based natural paints give off almost no smell and oil-based natural paints usually have a pleasant fragrance of citrus or essential oils.
- Allergies and sensitivities to these paints is uncommon.
- These paints are the safest for your health and for the environment.
Recycled Paints
CSI Division: 099123 | Residential Category: Interior Paint
Although seemingly impossible, unused paint can be returned to a collection site and reblended into a new paint. Since the color of recycled paint is not always exact, it is primarily used as a primer.
What Makes It A Green Product
- Participating in these programs helps to ensure that unused paint will not add to landfill burden.
Negative Environmental Considerations
- The level of harmful VOCs in these newly blended paints are not tested.
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