Home
Up

 

 

  

 

logo - Bauwerk Paint

Need a Green Painter? click here!

LOW VOC Synthetics

Conventional paints can make the air you breathe a chemical cocktail, even long after they have dried, as they continue to release petroleum based solvents, called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as they cure. It is estimated that each year in Australia more than 80,000 tonnes of VOCs are released into the atmosphere, with the paint industry contributing significantly to this amount.  Typical oil-based paint such as enamels average 350g/L VOCs, or between 35-50% of the paints volume and contain chemicals such as Aliphatic & aromatic hydrocarbons(toluene, xylene), ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone), alcohol (butanol, ethanol), esters (n-propyl acetate, butyl acetate) free monomers, volatile plasticisers, fungicides such as aromatic mercury compounds. Even typical water-based acrylics still contain 3-7% solvent content and may include chemicals such as glycol ethylene and propylene, glycol ethers, alcohols, formaldehyde, amines (ammonium hydroxide, amino-2-methyl propanol), monomers, volatile plasticisers, ammonia and fungicides. The VOC content of paint and the CO2 emitted during manufacture are key contributors to environmental impact - primarily in the form of air pollution (petrochemical smog) and to a lesser degree 'greenhouse gases'. In addition VOCs may also trigger respiratory reactions. Low-VOC paints should be specified for exterior applications as well.

Here is Australia there is now a range of 'zero' and ultra-low VOC paint products.   They are  manufactured using petro-chemicals, and by cross-linking molecular action, form a film of 'plastic' over the surfaces they cover.

 

Some major paint manufacturers in Australia still use tints that contain high levels of VOCS. Therefore, the GreenPainters advises consumers and specifiers to check what the VOC level is of tinted paint they intend to use. Tinted paint, even of paints labelled 'low-voc', often contain VOC levels over the Green Star Rating System VOC Minimisation credits (IEQ-13/11), which has been compiled from a combination of of information from Good Environmental Choice Australia's Architectural Coatings Standard and Table A of Directive 2004/42/CE of the European Parliament.

 

Advantages of Low-VOC paints:

  • Ideal for commercial applications, and offer excellent scrubbability.
  • Quick Drying
  • Low Odour
  • Non-yellowing
  • increased UV resistance, flexibility

Manufacturer

Solver Paints

Wattyl

Low-VOC tints

yes

yes

no

no

yes

Wallpaints Ultrasaten Ecostyle Low-sheen Zylone Enviroguard Wattyl ID
Wallboard Primer Blankor Ecostyle Wallboard Primer Enviroguard ID Primer
Ceiling Paints Supercolour Ceiling White Ceiling White Enviroguard Ceiling White
Acrylic Enamel Novalis Universal Ecostyle Gloss/Semi-gloss Enamacryl _______ Aquatrim
Timber Clear Novalis Woodstain _______ Aquapel _______ _______
Exterior Novalis Universal Ecostyle Lumbersider _______ _______
Galv Primer Fundgrap   Galvoprime    
Decorative Decorative Line, Occocento, Multidecor, Pallas. Raffaello Torino Pearl Shimmer, Metallic _______ _______
Paving Paint     Non-skid Deck and Path    

Additional Certification

 

 

 

Australian Paint Approval Scheme

Just because a paint is classed as 'Low-VOC' does not mean it is environmentally preferable. It is important to consider the entire manufacturing process of a product, and its' environmental impact. At present, the only way this can be assured is by independant assessment by an eco-labeling body such as Good Environmental Choice Australia. The GECA program conducts a comprehensive life cycle based assessment of product compliance to voluntary environmental declaration standards. It is a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network. Left is a summary of manufacturers who are GECA Certified.

   

 

Home ] Up ]

Send mail to admin with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2009 Greenpainters