How to choose responsible paint.
It can be challenging to figure out how to choose a paint that is gentle on yourself and the environment. Here are 5 things to keep an eye out for if you want to purchase responsible paint.
It can be challenging to figure out how to choose a paint that is gentle on yourself and the environment. Here are 5 things to keep an eye out for if you want to purchase responsible paint.
Nordic Swan Ecolabel & EU Ecolabel.
Choosing a paint that is certified with either the Nordic Swan Ecolabel or the EU Ecolabel is a great place to start if you want to buy a responsible paint. Our paint is certified with both labels because it meets stringent environmental and chemical requirements.
Specifically, this means that our paint does not contain heavy metals or plasticisers (which have been proven to harm reproductive health). Additionally, our paint must not contain turpentine or other such solvents, as they are harmful to both you and the environment.
Water-based.
You may have never thought about what your paint is made of before. Generally, paint is either oil-based or water-based. Oil-based paint contains mineral spirits, which not only have a strong odor (requiring prolonged ventilation), but also have a negative impact on the environment and can be harmful to you, and especially children and pregnant women. By choosing a water-based paint like ours, you ensure that the environment does not suffer, you create a better working environment when painting, and you protect yourself and your loved ones.
Ultra-low VOC.
Another thing to consider when looking for a responsible paint is the VOC content. VOC refers to the amount of chemicals released into the air as your paint dries. If exposed to large amounts of VOC, they can be harmful to you, particularly affecting your nervous system.
We have made sure to develop a paint with the lowest possible VOC, without compromising on the quality and durability of the paint. Our paint contains approximately 2.5g VOC/L, and in general, all paints containing less than 8g VOC/L are classified as ‘low-VOC’.
Local production.
We have made a decision to prioritise local production of our paint. This means that our paint is manufactured at a factory in Kolding, Denmark. Additionally, we have also ensured that as many of our paint tools as possible are produced in either Denmark or Sweden.
The advantage of locally produced goods is both the reduced CO2 emissions associated with transporting the products and the quality aspect. Goods that are not produced locally are not subject to European legislation and therefore cannot be regulated to the same extent. Lastly, it has also been a matter of conscience, as we want to support our local community by ensuring jobs and the economy within the EU.
Climate-compensated shipping.
Finally, we have chosen to offset the carbon emissions from your shipping. This means that every time we send an order, we also make a contribution to the climate by exclusively supporting nature funds that work to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by restoring and preserving forests and other important parts of our nature.