INTERIORS (COATINGS, SEALANTS & PAINTS)
Planet-friendly paint performance
There’s a growing interest in environmentally friendly paints, but you don’t have to sacrifice performance or looks to achieve environmental benefits, as Earthborn Paints’ Colin Jones explains
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onventional, acrylic-based paints contain two potentially harmful components: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and acrylic softeners. Both escape into the atmosphere during painting and for many years after application, contributing to greenhouse gases. These toxic ingredients can also find their way into drains and groundwater when washing out brushes and disposing of paint tins in landfill. They can cause chest complaints, aggravate allergies, and cause sick building syndrome. Acrylic-based paints can also adversely
affect walls. They prevent a wall from breathing, which can lead to moisture damage such as blown plaster.
VOCS
High levels of VOCs are generally associated with oil-based paints, but they are found to varying degrees even in water-based paints. The EU limit for paints to be classed as minimal VOC is 30g/L. However, this is relatively high and it is advisable to seek out those containing a maximum of just 0.5g/L VOC.
The easiest way to ensure you’re
creating a sustainable, environmentally sound specification is to check the paint is EU Ecolabel approved. This stringent standard covers every aspect of a product’s manufacture, use and disposal.
SPECIFYING SUSTAINABILITY
When it came to building a new home for themselves, two partners at Downs Merrifield Architects were determined to stamp sustainability throughout its specification. Nic and Carolyn found the perfect plot for their home, close to the centre of Cardiff yet tucked quietly away in a leafy corner. Nic said: “We wanted the house to reflect our environmental principles, with
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a strong use of timber and energy saving products. It was only natural for us to focus on sustainability of the build, because that is the essence of our new practice.”
Aiming to achieve high quality design and passive house status, Nic and Carolyn’s specification for the timber framed, timber and glass clad home includes very high levels of insulation, airtight construction, whole house ventilation, photovoltaics and large areas of south facing glazing, to maximise solar heat gain. Carolyn added: “We went to great lengths to ensure that our paint finish complemented the other sustainable aspects of the house. It was important to us that our choice was virtually VOC free, while offering high performance and excellent covering properties. The Ecolabel scheme offers environmental reassurance, so that was our starting point.”
The couple chose an emulsion that had exceptional eco credentials, low odour and hard wearing finish. Every wall and ceiling that doesn’t have ceramic tiles or
Acrylic-based paints can also affect walls, preventing them from breathing which can lead to moisture damage
hardwood cladding has been painted with it.
Paints with Ecolabel approval, such as
Ecopro Matt Emulsion, are easy to use, environmentally sound alternatives to conventional emulsions. Ecopro’s formulation, for example, is totally free of oils and acrylics and virtually VOC free and the result is a durable, anti-static, matt finish. Newly decorated rooms can be brought back into use quickly because these paints do not give off any harmful
november/december 2019 The timber-framed home designed by two partners at Downs Merrifield Architects
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