Are you thinking about refreshing your indoor surroundings? If it’s time for a fresh coat of paint, consider your options. More paints are being introduced that are better for your health and environment.
Buh-Bye VOC’s
Being environmentally conscious when selecting paint and related products isn’t just important for the environment. They can have a big impact on your health as well! A study by the National Cancer Institute found that people working as painters had a significantly increased risk of cancer, due to the VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs are potentially carcinogenic, carbon-based chemicals found in conventional paints that are released into the air when new paint is put on, old paint is removed, and to a lesser extent, continually throughout the life of the paint job.
Buying Eco-Friendly Paint
To avoid the harmful effects of VOCs look for paints labeled “eco-friendly.” These are generally manufactured to contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than regular coatings—or none at all. Also try to use lighter colors. Your hardware store will add pigment to your paint once you select a color. This pigment is full of VOCs. Lighter colors contain less pigment, while deeper colors such as reds and browns use a significant amount of pigment.
Left over Paint
It’s likely that leftover paint will come in handy. If your paintwork gets chipped or marked a dab of paint will clear things up quickly and you’ll be glad of having some leftovers rather than buying a whole new tin. If you have a fairly large amount of paint left it’s worth seeing if any friends or neighbours need any paint. Ask around or post through a website such as freecycle. If you can’t donate the paint, contact your Local Authority to see if they collect leftover paint or to find out how you can dispose of it. They will direct you to the nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre which has a licence to handles hazardous waste.
Make a difference − share this environmental tip with your friends.
