Setting Priorities

Eco Priority Guide: Paints

Eco-Priorities

Look for materials in the product database that address the following issues:

Priority Order	EB/UV cured Poly-urethane (PUR)	Water based Acrylic	PVAC	Alkyd (‘oil’)	Solvent based Poly-urethane	Epoxide(Epoxies)	Natural emulsion	Cement
1	Health	Health	Health	Health	Health	Health	Health**	GHG
2	Toxics, GHG	Toxics, GHG	Toxics, GHG	Toxics, GHG	Toxics, GHG	Toxics, GHG	GHG	Health* Resources
3	Resources	Resources	Resources	Resources	Resources	Resources
4
Example	Powdercoat					Powdercoat

* Depends on admixtures. May include acrylic compounds.

**Generally only an issue for persons with very high levels of chemical sensitivity but depends on product.

Overview

Paints are one of the more difficult categories to obtain accurate information on: what actually goes into paint? What standards apply? Is a citrus-based VOC not a health hazard? Do paints continue to off-gas over time? How do natural paints actually perform, and are there any suitable for commercial or health care applications?

These are just some of the questions commonly asked. In fact paints are one of the more surprising areas in the building industry. For example:

· Mineral turps (used as a thinner and solvent) may contain up to 20% benzene, which is a confirmed carcinogen and mutagen in chronically exposed workers (Thurtell L. (ed) 2003)

· In most paints up to 20% of a tin by volume can be the pigment Titanium Dioxide, a product that can have a very high environmental impact load associated with it (Maline N. 1999)

· Acrylic paints are much safer to work with through having less hydrocarbon solvents (Demkin 1996) p.09930-21. Solvent content in water-based paints tends to range from 0-200g/l compared to 250-750 g/l in ‘oil’ based paints (Maline N. 1999). Low VOC paints are up to 16g/l (GBCA) and ultra low to zero, 0-1g/l.

· Acrylic paints typically include a range of biocides to protect the latex, which can include arsenic disulphide, phenol, copper, formaldehyde, and quaternary ammonium compounds. ‘While biocide manufacturer’s claim that the formaldehyde in these products won’t come out, EPA data shows this is not the case’ (Maline N. 1999)

· Many metal pigments used in paints (e.g. cadmium) are highly toxic and relatively rare resources.

· Natural paints and stains often contain the natural turpentine, d-limonene, which is allergenic to some highly sensitised people.

Quick Guide - Paints

EB/UV Cured Polyurethanes

For:

· Low to zero solvent, reduced worker health impacts

· Release virtually no hazardous air particles

· Reduced paint volume, raw resource use

· Factory applied, highly efficient low waste technology

· Up to 90% energy savings against thermal curing systems

Against:

· Available products in Australia limited

Conventional Water-based Acrylic

For:

· Greatly reduced VOCs and toxic hydrocarbon emissions

· Reduced impacts from clean-up – water based not mineral turps based

Against:

· Potential ongoing low-level emissions of range of products including formaldehyde

· Use of fungicides and biocides to protect latex

· Significant ingredients imported only

PVAC

For:

· Greatly reduced VOCs and toxic hydrocarbon emissions

· Reduced impacts from clean-up – water based not mineral turps based

Against:

· Potential ongoing low-level emissions of range of products including formaldehyde

· Use of fungicides and biocides to protect latex

· In some applications may not give durability and wash & wear performance of alkyd paints

· Significant ingredients imported only

Alkyd - Oil based

For:

· Does not use the full range of biocides and fungicides used by acrylic paints

Against:

· High toxic VOC emissions with known health effects, though ‘high alkyd’ paints can reduce this somewhat

· Significant clean up impacts from need for mineral-based solvents

· Significant ingredients imported only

Conventional Polurethane

Against:

· High toxic VOC emissions with known health effects, though ‘high alkyd’ paints can reduce this somewhat

· Significant clean up impacts from need for mineral-based solvents

· Significant ingredients imported only

Against:

· Highly allergenic constituents

· Toxic VOCs

· Significant ingredients imported only

Against:

· Durability in some emulsions not as good as alkyd and acrylics

· Some natural paints highly susceptible to fungal attack.

· Application can be labour and skill intensive

Quick Guide – Surface Treatments

Acrylic Varnish

For:

· Greatly reduced VOCs and toxic hydrocarbon emissions

· Reduced impacts from clean-up – water based not mineral turps based

Against:

· Potential ongoing low-level emissions of range of products including formaldehyde

· Use of fungicides and biocides to protect latex

· In some applications may not give durability and wash & wear performance of alkyd paints

· Repair required re-preparation and reapplication

· Significant ingredients imported only

Alkyd Varnish

For:

· Does not use the full range of biocides and fungicides used by acrylic paints

· In some applications may be more durable than acrylics.

Against:

· High toxic VOC emissions with known health effects, though ‘high alkyd’ paints can reduce this somewhat

· Significant clean up impacts from need for mineral-based solvents

· Repair required re-preparation and reapplication

· Significant ingredients imported only

PUR Varnish

For:

· Durability

Against:

· High toxic VOC emissions with known health effects, though ‘high alkyd’ paints can reduce this somewhat

· Significant clean up impacts from need for mineral-based solvents

· Repair required re-preparation and reapplication

· Significant ingredients imported only

Natural Oil

For:

· Repair requires spot reapplication typically

· Penetrates wood surfaces

· Low/ zero VOC, low toxicity VOCs

Against:

· Requires additional time to apply to achieve high-gloss for some applications

Synthetic Stain

For:

· UV stability

Against:

· Use of range of high energy and smog-forming chemicals in manufacture

Natural Stain

For:

· Low impact production

Against:

· May require more frequent reapplication than synthetic stains

Synthetic Wax

For:

· Durable

Against:

· Range of aromatic hydrocarbons used with associated VOCs and emissions, GHG in production phase

· Repair/ reapplication normally requires stripping back – waste and resources associated

Natural Wax

For:

· Low impact production

· Repair requires spot reapplication typically

Against:

· More frequent maintenance intervals

Decision-Making Guidelines: a Global Guide

Project specific activities

Ongoing activities: Building Capacity

· Interrogating materials use by Guidelines 1-8.

· Data Quality checks

· Build understanding

· Send right signals

· Innovate and educate

Does a thing have to be made or used? If so, does it create a net benefit?
Fate: start with the end in mind. If the product is not reusable, fully biodegradable or highly recyclable at the end of life, or facilitating these activities, its not sustainable.
Energy: what will the product’s likely net energy balance be over its life? Will it save more energy than it uses?
Biodiversity: Is there a chance that the product has had a negative impact on biodiversity? Erosion of biodiversity is a one-way street.
Toxicity: is the product toxic and or persistent in the environment at any stage in its life cycle? If so, don’t use it.
Resources: does the product use rare resources/ create a net negative flow of resources (e.g. poor maintainability/ high maintenance requirements)
Is the product socially sustainable?
Does the product or its use contribute to sustainability intangibles?

Internet Resources

Office of National Tourism Internet Site

Contains an excellent overview of paints and paint issues from an environmental and Australian point of view. Some local product information as well.
http://cleanerproduction.curtin.edu.au/resources/casestudies/bauwerk_paint.pdf

Non-Toxic Household

As well as providing non-toxic alternatives to common household products, the site provides specific information on ingredients to avoid in these products, and some recipes for DIY alternatives from everyday ingredients.
· Common Harmful Ingredients and their Health Hazards
· Homemade Alternatives
· Non-Toxic Commercial Alternatives
· Ingredients and Where to Find Them
http://www.humboldt.edu/~ccat/virtualtour/handouts/non_toxic_cleaners.pdf

References

Demkin, J., Ed The American Institute of Architects, (1996). Environmental Resource Guide. New York, John Wiley and Sons.
Maline N. (1999). "Paint the Room Green." Environmental Building News 8(2).
Thurtell L. Ed (2003). A-Z Chemicals in the Home. Sydney, Choice Books.