Protect Your Air Quality with Low-VOC or Zero-VOC Paint

For your next DIY painting project try out low-VOC or zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints. Not only will you avoid that initial heavy chemical fresh paint smell, but you will also avoid the harmful emissions release from the paint for years to come. These low level toxic emissions are one of the leader factors of poor indoor air quality, but they also contribute to outdoor air pollution and ozone depletion. The low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes are comparable or superior to standard paints in terms of durability, scrubability and coverage. They are slightly more expensive, but consider that a small price to pay for the quality of your indoor air and, in the long run, for keeping contaminants out of our soil and water. And you don’t have to wait for the hazardous waste day to get rid of your old paint cans!

For the ultimate in zero-VOC paints check out the Old-Fashioned Milk Paint Company. Charles Thibeau, the founder of the company, replicated techniques used by colonial painters to create rich paint colors by mixing milk, lime, clay with earth pigments. He has since developed 20 color varieties best suited for interior applications. These paints are odorless and toxin-free, and, an added bonus—the milk paint is shipped as a powder (read: less energy involved in transporting and less packaging) to which you simply add water and only mix up what you intend to use at the time. This makes for easy and compact storage. One Gallon of the SafePaint line designed specifically for walls is $45.95.

Fortunately, since word of the dangers of the chemicals in our paints has leaked, low-VOC or zero-VOC paints have become more accessible and more affordable. Here are some other low-VOC & zero-VOC alternatives:

Sherwin Williams-GreenSure-offers both low and zero VOC products, incorporates sustainable raw materials like soy and sunflower oil, cut down on amount of solvents used, and are making efforts to reduce the amount waste and energy used in their manufacturing process.

Benjamin Moore-Aura – Greenguard certified, low-voc, durable, scrubbable, intensely saturated color palette

Benjamin Moore – EcoSpec -low odor, low-VOC, washable semi-gloss, 100% acrylic latex,

Dunn Edwards Paint – even offers a paint made of 50% post consumer recycled paint, they have been ahead of the curve on green and health advances in paint, zero-voc, low odor, they recycle 95% of the waste produced during manufacturing, stores in California, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada & Arizona

The Freshaire Choice – Greenguard certified, no VOCs in the base, no VOCs in the colorant, no odor, available at the Home Depot, $36.98/Gallon

Safecoat from AFM-non-polluting paints, stains, wood finishes, and sealers, zero-VOC, reduces indoor and outdoor air pollution, free of heavy metals, chemical residuals and formaldehyde, the safecoat bonds to cut down on off-gassing,

Green Planet Paints-truly zero-VOC (some paints that satisfy the EPA’s zero-VOC standards may still contain harmful chemicals in their colorants), made of clay, marble, titanium dioxide, soy resin, phosphate salt, cellulose, mineral pigments and some dispersing aids and preservatives, company aims to minimize environmental impact, supports community, rich earth tones, $31.12/gallon