Whether you are interested in home decor or not, you may be interested in learning more about the secrets of the paint industry. Although technically, with the right knowledge of products, ingredients and research, this information isn’t a secret, however many paid brands fail to make it clear that in most cases their products are not vegan, are toxic and have risks to the environment. In this article we are going to explain the secrets within the paint industry and how you can avoid them.
1. Volatile Organic Compounds
The first ingredient in paint that we are going to be discussing is volatile organic compounds. You may or may not have heard of volatile organic compounds before, but they more commonly go by the name of ‘VOCs’. The reason that VOCs exist in paint is because they act as a medium to transfer paint from the can to the surface, thus aiding the paint’s flow. Unfortunately however, VOCs are actually harmful to both humans, animals and the environment. This is because VOCs are toxic to inhale and contribute to the formation of the ground level ozone.
There are a number of side effects of inhaling VOCs and generally the longer you are exposed to these chemicals, the worse the side effects are. Some of the most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Sickness
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness/ dizziness
- Eye, throat and nose irritation.
- Skin reactions.
Often, the cheaper a paint is, the higher level of VOCs it will contain. Fortunately, some brands have come to the rescue offering low VOC paint alternatives that minimise the risk and toxicity of painting. Our favourite low VOC paint brand is Victory Colours because their entire range of paint is low VOC and comes in a variety of colours.
What’s more, to make sure that anyone can get their hands on their low VOC paint, they even offer a colour matching service if you can’t quite find the exact colour you like in their range, they’ll do their best to make a colour for you. Another reason we recommend Victory Colours is because unlike other paint brands, not only is their paint low VOC, it is also vegan and eco friendly which takes us onto our next point.
2. Vegan/ Cruelty Free
Another thing many people are unaware of when it comes to paint is the fact that it is not vegan or in some cases cruelty free. Paint and pigments sometimes include animal derived ingredients or worse, have been tested on animals. Other reasons why paint is not vegan is because some paints contain casein which is a protein made from milk, used as a binder to stick the pigment to the base of the paint.
It is possible to purchase vegan and cruelty free paint, but be sure to check the label first. Victory Colours sell not only low VOC paint but their paint is vegan too as it contains no animal derived ingredients nor has it been tested on animals.
3. Environmental Risks
Many people don’t know that paint is a major source of indoor air pollution and can have a negative impact on the environment. This is because paints contain a number of harmful ingredients, which include VOCs. These chemicals contribute to global warming as they evaporate into the atmosphere causing pollution. The best way to avoid the environmental risks is to buy a toxic free, low VOC paint alternative.
