Go+Fix+It



Susan Bivone Sustainability Problems Go Fix It

Paint is not necessarily a product that you first think of when you consider environmental sustainability, but the specific use of paint color can have positive impacts. Paint is not a perfect product and the ingredients have impacts on the environment and companies have social responsibility beyond the odor and VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals). There are many companies that are using their impacts for good. [|Kelly-Moore Paints], for example, pioneered the concept of recycling paint 15 years ago. Their product, eCoat, is made of 50% recycled paint and 50% new stock for only $18. This shows that being environmentally friendly doesn’t necessarily cost more and there is no reason we shouldn’t consider other options. Sherwin Williams utilizes soy beans and sunflower oils as ingredients as well as resin containing recycled plastic bottles. Colorants are a major component contributing to VOCs, and many manufacturers are tinting without VOCs such as Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. Paints can be colored with mineral pigments including ochers, sienna, umbers, ultramarines, and spinels, known as unearthed paints. These paints can come in up to 35 colors each with 3 shades which are biodegradable, non-toxic, and odorless. “Low-VOC paints used to be a way to sell your building,” [|Pfohl] explains. “But using paint like this is a way to show you’re taking the next step and doing the right thing.” [|Paint Industry sustainability] involves life-cycle management and being aware of a product from its production leading to the customer and event to how it is being disposed of. The cycle begins with a product that is manufactured and includes the item such as paint as well as the packaging involved in shipping the product. The product them makes it to the consumer and the product is applied; basically the painting process. The waste that needs to be recycled is produced after the product is used including [|water], solvents, all packaging, and materials. This waste can be turned back into raw materials such as petroleum, plant oils, minerals, and water that can be reused by companies and turned into future products. [|LEED] has standards for amount so VOC allowed in buildings related to paint, however, it also has certain recommendations for color within a space. Color use in interiors is extremely important to the use of energy within that space. For interiors, white /light colors a room can look brighter and larger. In addition, light colored paints don’t absorb as much heat from incoming sunlight and it keeps a room cool in the summer. The reflectivity of the lighter color also beings light into a space and requires significantly less artificial lighting, decreasing the amount of energy used on a daily basis by relying on natural daylighting to brighten a room. Overall, paint color can be used as an environmental solution and can help reduce energy in buildings. This solution relies heavily on the consumer to be educated about their options to make [|good choices] and read labels when purchasing products.

 Sources:

Correia de Souza TAVARES, Elcio1, elciotavares@unp.br, Tassyla1 Talyne Nunes BARBOSA, José1 Narbal de Oliveira FILHO, and Carla Gracy1, carlagracy@unp.br Ribeiro MENESES. “Reuse of Waste Water-Based Paint.” //Key Engineering Materials// 600 (June 20, 2014): 699–702. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.600.699.

Interiors, Natural Modern. “Renovation Tips :: Low VOC and Natural Paints.” //Natural Modern Interiors//, February 7, 2011. http://naturalmoderninteriors.blogspot.com/2011/02/renovation-tips-low-voc-and-natural.html.

 “Paints, Finishes and Adhesives.” //Sustainabilitysources.com//. http://paints.sustainablesources.com/.

Ryan, Maxwell. “10 Best Non-VOC, Low-Toxic Interior Paints.” //Apartment Therapy//, May 30, 2008. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/10-best-nonvoc-lowtoxic-interi-51698.