'Greener paint'... or is it?

There's something extremely satisfying about painting a wall, and then another one, and then the whole room. But as you beaver away, lovingly transforming your immediate environment, do you spare a thought for the impact you may be having on the wider environment? And do you wonder, too, if that gloopy, malodorous mixture you are using might damage your health, or that of your family?

Dr Hermann Fischer did. He is the German chemist who, back in the early 1970s, began research to concoct a 'greener' type of paint. This was a tougher proposition than it sounds. Each of the numerous ingredients in traditional paints is there for a reason: leave something out and it may be a struggle to find a workable, acceptable alternative. Nevertheless, Dr Fischer persevered ñ and went on to found Auro, a leading producer of environmentally friendly decorating products. Of course, the industry has come a long way since then. There are now scores of different companies offering 'cleaner' paint.

Meanwhile, the major manufacturers of conventional paints have also taken steps, albeit modest, to clean up their act. Witness the growing popularity of water-based paints as opposed to solvent-based or oil-based. These claim to be lower in potentially harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) released into the air both during and after use, some of which are known to be extremely toxic. The UK coatings industry has adopted a classification and labelling scheme which 'bands' products according to their VOC content, from very high (more than 50%) down to minimal (less than 0.29%). In theory at least, this enables the consumer to choose safer products. However, in order to compensate for the lack of solvent in gloss paints, more chemicals are added which may well be dangerous in themselves.

Traditional solvents, such as white spirit, and synthetic resins in traditional paint can cause irritation to the user ñ but then so can natural alternatives. Some 'green' paints contain plant based oils such as d-Limoneme, distilled from citrus peel, which provokes an allergic reaction in some. It is wrong to assume that natural ingredients are always better for you than synthetic ones. Some natural pigments, for instance, such as vermilion, are highly toxic.

Greener paint usually cost more, although this may not be your major consideration if the paint job you are doing is relatively small, and it does tend to be more hard-wearing. There may be a restricted range of colours available compared to standard products, but that depends on the company's willingness- or not- to include synthetic ingredients.

If you do choose ecological paints then, almost certainly, you will have a clearer idea of what is in them. 'Green' manufacturers take pride in disclosing their ingredients ñ and that includes boasting about what they leave out. But pop down your local DIY store to view the range there, and chances are you'll find precious little information to guide your selection. Needless to say, pregnant women and people with certain conditions such as asthma or ME will need to be particularly cautious in their choice. But whichever type of paint you choose, certain precautions are only sensible: ensuring adequate ventilation while you work, following manufacturers' instructions and disposing of leftover paint in a responsible way, perhaps by donating it to your local community repaint scheme, which will then redistribute it to a worthy cause.

Community Repaint Scheme Will collect most types of paint, so long as it's under 10 yrs old, in original containers, more than a third full. www.communityrepaint.org.uk

Author: Lorraine Evenden