Eco-Friendly Paints

by Darren

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Eco-friendly paints are gaining popularity with homeowners and house painters alike. It’s a good thing, too, because house paint has traditionally been a major disaster for the environment, and lead-based paint is a proven health threat. These days, traditional paint manufacturers are getting in on the act, and declaring their new products “green”, but it’s still “caveat emptor” as far as many paints go.

Aura, by Benjamin Moore, is touted as eco-friendly paint

Paints with high scores in the magazine’s tests for low luster paints include Benjamin Moore Aura ($55 a gallon), True Value Easy Care ($23 a gallon) and Glidden Evermore ($20 a gallon). DiClerico pointed out that Freshaire Choice ($35-$38 a gallon), which has a powder colorant, and Mythic ($35-$42 a gallon) advertise zero VOCs, but they were not included in the tests.

“Most of the manufacturers we deal with have introduced or are in the process of introducing a low or no VOC line,” DiClerico said. “But that’s where a lot of the confusion rests. What qualifies as low VOC? There really isn’t any standard.”

The big problem with eco-friendly paint in the past, is it clearly didn’t work as well as traditional paint. That remains a concern, but certain brands are getting better.

Experts warn that you have to be careful of products that have been “greenwashed”. Greenwashing companies merely tout their products as eco-friendly, without much proof. The jury is still out on eco-friendly paints, despite the fact there are some good reports of newer brands.

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