Surface Finishes Part 3 – Household paint & sustainability

Manufacture – Conventional paint is made of individual chemicals and the manufacturing process uses large amounts of non renewable energy – mainly petroleum.  The process creates high levels of carbon, methane and VOC emissions which pollute the air and contribute to climate change.  Paint manufacturing is not sustainable as around 10% of the damage to the environment comes from processing each individual chemical – not even the actual combination of these chemicals to make the paint.

Manufacture Waste – Production waste from both water & solvent based paints are ′toxic chemical waste′, which cannot be recycled and will not biodegrade.  Manufacturing waste must be stored securely to prevent air, land and water pollution.  Together these would destroy eco systems and cause damage to human health. So much waste is created with conventional paint, in some cases up to 5 paint pots of waste to 1 paint pot manufactured.  So where does it go? It′s stored underground, in toxic waste facilities or taken overseas. 

Generally any paint pot, list of ingredients or label that has a red warning symbol on it, or advises it is a skin irritant, or not to ingest, or not to get into contact with eyes etc…… ask yourself if it is really safe in the air? Your skin is delicate and will react to chemicals, think how delicate your lungs are as you breathe. With respiration health conditions on the increase, it′s important to be aware of what surrounds you as you live and work.

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