How To Select Healthy Paints

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Selecting a paint color can be a daunting task with so many options available. Colors can impact our mood and can set the tone for the room, for instance calming for bedroom, energetic for kitchen, productivity for the office. Along with color choice, there is another very important factor one should consider when selecting paint, the ingredients! Many paints on the market contain VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and other unhealthy pollutants that can off-gas (volatilization also known as off-gassing happens when chemicals change into a gas and release into the air). Off-gassing contributes to ozone pollution and also unhealthy indoor air quality. According to the EPA these chemicals can lead to a majority of health problems including eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, allergies and even damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system.

With healthier paints readily available on the market today, there is no reason not to be making the safer choice.

Unless a manufacturer claims zero VOC’s (this information should be clear on their website or labelled on the can itself), I would avoid it altogether. Zero VOC is better than Low VOC (low VOC paints are required to have less than 50g/l per liter whereas zero VOC paints are required to have less than 5g/l ).

Unfortunately, there are other chemicals besides VOCs that are in most paints (binders, pigments, additives) that present a variety of other toxicity concerns. For example, Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) are a group of chemicals used in acrylic paint to allow pigments to blend better. Most common interior paints are acrylic based, made from petrochemicals derived from fossil fuels. Acrylic paints contribute to the massive amount of microplastics in the environment, and making these paints is carbon intensive and contributes to the climate crisis. Healthier paints are mineral, or plant based instead of plastic-based, there are fewer of these on the market and people are less familiar with using them. This information is from the The New School/Parsons Healthy Materials Lab which I have linked at the end of my blog.

I understand most people look at the more popular manufacturers out of familiarity and convenience, luckily there is more pressure now in the market and most offer a healthier paint line you can chose from.

There are also smaller paint companies that are doing great work in producing eco-friendly paints that are Zero VOC, Green Guard certified, and some are even 100% organic.

And remember, just because it is zero VOC doesn’t mean it is toxic free. I would recommend (and I think other sustainability experts would agree), by selecting a product within the range of zero VOC and 100% organic, you are making a healthier choice for you and your family.

Clare Paint - Zero VOC, Greenguard Gold certified.
ECOS Paint - Zero VOC, Sustainable Ingredients.
The Real Milk Paint Co. - 100% Organic Materials, Zero VOC.
Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec 500 - Water-based, Cradle to Cradle Silver Certified, Zero VOC.
Sherwin Williams ProMar 200 Zero VOC - GreenGuard Gold Certification, Zero VOC.

Healthy paints with all the feels…

Benjamin Moore OC-27 Balboa Mist, Clare Paint in Seize The Gray, Sherwin Williams 9094 Playa Arenosa

Sherwin Williams-6451 Nurture Green, Clare Paint in High Vibe, Benjamin Moore-HC-141 Hollingsworth Green

Benjamin Moore-Blue Veil 875, Clare Paint in Good Jeans, Ecos 0655 Queen Of The Night

ECOS Paints 1258 Sweet Flower, Benjamin Moore-AF-640 Kasbah, Milk Paint in Plum

Clare Paint in Wing it, ECOS Paint 0036 Fortune’s Prize, Sherwin Williams 0025 Rose Dust

Sherwin Williams 1666 Venetian Yellow, Milk Paint in Dijon, Benjamin Moore 2159-70 Cotton Tail

Takeaways:

  • Look for low or better yet no VOC

  • Look for Green Seal-11 or Green Guard Certified

  • Check with manufacturers ingredients (some paints may not have a certification but still may meet the criteria).

  • Avoid “antifungal” or “antimicrobial” paints.

  • Consider milk paints as a healthier alternative to water-based latex paints.

  • Look for mineral or plant based pigments ingredients in the paints.

If you are interested in more information regarding organic paint manufacturers, paint ingredients and chemicals to avoid, The Healthy Materials Lab at The New School/Parsons has examples of paint companies that they have carefully evaluated. Other excellent resources to consider when regarding interior paints, HomeFree by the Healthy Building Network (HBN) and EWG’s Healthy Living Home Guide.