A Complete Guide To Eco-Friendly, Low VOC Paint

Vincenzo's Decorating
Jul 14, 2016
3 min read

Over the past 15 years people have become more concerned about their paints being “green” or low or zero VOC paint. There weren't many choices in the past, but today choices are abundant. It is important to be aware about some of the important factors that may be overlooked when planning to freshen up your home.

What does it really mean to have a “green” or eco-friendly paint, anyway?

It all has to do with the volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, where some of the most harmful chemicals are found. Typical household paint contains up to 10,000 chemicals, of which 300 are known toxins and 150 have been linked to cancer.

What are VOCs?

They are unstable, carbon-containing compounds that readily vaporize into the air. When they enter the air, they react with other elements to produce ozone, which causes air pollution and a host of health issues including, but not limited to, breathing problems, headache, burning, watery eyes and nausea.

Volatile Organic Compounds are emitted by different gases and solids such as paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, and craft materials including adhesives and permanent markers.

What are some common VOCs found in paint?

Common VOCs in paint include ethylene glycol (the same chemical compound found in antifreeze), formaldehyde, benzene, and a variety of other flammable or toxic chemicals. The paint’s materials safety data sheet (MSDS) lists the hazardous materials the product contains. Laminated MSDS sheets are usually displayed in paint stores, or you can download them from a paint manufacturer’s website.

So, what qualifies a paint to be low VOC?

To be a low VOC paint, the VOC level must be 50 g/l or less for most products. While a lot of the paints were qualifying at this level, as soon as the colorant was added the paint exceeded these levels. Today paint manufacturers have switched over to zero VOC colorants. Now when a paint label says low or zero VOC paint, it truly is.

Why do people care about this?

As paint dries, these harmful VOCs are released into the air at high levels. This can lead to breathing problems for those with asthma, cause dizziness and skin irritation for just about anyone. In extreme cases they can even cause cancer. These types of issues come up more on interior paints, as the fumes stay trapped in the house. Indoor VOC levels are routinely 10 times higher than outdoor levels, and up to 1,000 times higher immediately after painting. On the exterior paints, the VOCs can lead to air pollution, and contribute to poor air quality. Although VOC levels are highest during and soon after painting, they continue seeping out for several years. In fact, only 50% of the VOCs may be released in the first year.

Natural paints and finishes have little to no odor and are made from natural raw ingredients: water, plant dyes, essential oils, plant oils and resins, milk casein, natural latex, beeswax. Read the label and you'll see ingredients that you can more or less pronounce.

Does this mean low/no VOC paint is more expensive?

Painters tend to shy away from low/no VOC paint, assuming it’s more expensive than the stuff that’s hazardous to their health. In fact, low/no VOC paint are comparable in price to any paint that’s comparable in coverage.Price is determined by how much bang you get from a gallon. Benjamin Moore’s zero-VOC Aura paint sells for almost $60 per gallon, not because it’s zero VOC, but because it is self-priming and requires only two coats to cover a room. Benjamin Moore’s low-VOC line, Ben, costs about $35 per gallon, comparable to other VOC-laden premium paints.

Vincenzo's Decorating is committed to using eco-friendly, low/no VOC paint. We proudly follow environmental guidelines.