Wow, this is a truly non-toxic paint, and it’s going to be sold exclusively at Home Depot. It’s called Freshaire Choice, and it’s a zero VOC paint. According to the EPA, the air inside a home is, on average, two-to-five-times more polluted than the air outside. Paint is a large contributing factor to poor indoor air quality and can emit harmful chemicals, such as VOCs, for years after application.

Another innovative feature of this line of paint is that the tints are also zero VOC. It’s the first paint that can make this claim — on average, up to 150 grams of VOCs are added back into paint once the color is mixed. That means that even if you buy a boutique, all natural paint, as soon as you tint it to the color you desire, you just defeated all the work you put into locating and purchasing the paint (except for naturally pigmented paints, like clay paints).

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Conventional paint strippers are usually very toxic substances that you’d be better off not bringing into your home. But one company, Green Products, has created a bio-based paint stripper and solvent called aMAIZEing.

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Eco-House makes a range of non-toxic products for painters. No longer will they have to suffer from inhaling dire substances! Eco-House offers solvents, thinners and finishes. They have a turpentine substitute which combines the solving action of orange peel oil with highly purified mineral oils. By contrast, petroleum-based solvents have toxic aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, which also cause their obnoxious smell.

Available from Blink Art Materials.

Via: Treehugger

Why does almost all of the paint sold in the U.S. contain toxic ingredients? Because chemicals (such as formaldehyde and acetone) are cheap. The resources needed to study the long-term effects of the thousands of chemicals contained in paints, stains, and varnishes would be immense. The . Other non-toxic ingredient could be used — but they are slightly more expensive.

Yet, there are efficient paints available that perform equally well. AFM SafeCoat makes a range of paints which contain no toxic ingredients — no ammonia, formaldehyde, acetone, heavy metals or other VOCs.

Here is a list of AFM Safecoat retailers. Here is a list of FAQ on AFM paints. (Unfortunately the AFM website does not work well with Mozilla browsers).

Agalia Paints are plant-based paints produced by the Germany company Beeck’sche Farbwerke. All Agalia products are 100% natural. They are made with unique combinations of plant oil and minerals. Here is a full list of ingredients (PDF file) used in their paints.

They also produce wood finishes called Aquasol. The finishes are an alternative to solvent-based products. These natural oil finishes use water as the carrier and can be thinned and cleaned up with water.

Here is full declaration (PDF file) of what each of their products contain.

Here is a list of Agalia retailers.

Website: Agalia Paints

Napier Environmental is a company in British Columbia that sells non-toxic wood stains that replace the hazardous products widely used to treat wood today.

An example of one of their products is Natural Desk Oil, a waterborne blend of natural oils designed to penetrate deep into wood, and protect it like the true oils found in wood.

You can buy their products from many retailers in the U.S.

Web Site: Napier Environmental

American Clay natural interior plasters resist mold growth, do not outgas, are easily repaired, and are available in twelve earth inspired colors. Here is an article explaining the advantages of earth plasters.

Available from: American Clay

Mineral silicate paints are non-toxic, odorless, vapor-permeable, naturally resistant to fungi and algae, non-combustible, light-reflective, resistant to acid rain, and extremely durable.

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This is the perfect paint for people who love the dappled,
richly textured look of old plaster but find themselves surrounded instead
by flat drywall.

It is sold as a powder, made according to a recipe that’s been around
since the time of the ancient Egyptians. As you need it, you mix it with
water and ochres
and oxides color pigments. People enjoy using these earth-based pigments
because it gives them freedom to make an endlessly variable range of pastels.
When small batches are intermixed and sponged on, walls emerge with the
handmade look of aged plaster.

Note from Milk Paint User: Milk paint, which comes in many warm
colors, differs from the more modern acrylics and contemporary finishes
in that it does not come ready to use. Milk paint comes in powder form
and must be mixed with water. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to
make this nontoxic, water-soluble finish. Start by mixing equal amounts
of milk paint and water in a plastic container, using a slow-speed mixer,
until the powder is completely blended with the water. A mixer works better
than mixing by hand because you avoid lumps and get a smoother consistency.
I usually strain the mixed paint through a cheesecloth or nylon stocking.
Clean the equipment right after use. The object you will be painting should
be thoroughly sanded and cleaned. Wring out a moist rag and wipe down the
object. This removes the dust and dampens the surface. Apply the first
coat with a sponge brush. Plan the sequence of painting (top, bottom, sides,
etc.). As soon as the first coat is finished, start with the second, painting
the surfaces in the same sequence. Then apply a third coat, again in sequence.
Remember to stir the paint occasionally as you work. You should have a
good, even buildup of paint, which you should allow to dry for 24 hours.
When thoroughly dry, rub it down with 4/0 or 6/0 steel wool. Be creative
to get an antique look, rubbing through the finish on the edges. Fine (400
grit) sandpaper will work quickly, but you should follow with steel wool
to remove the sanding scratches. Once you have the effect you want, dip
a rag in Danish oil and rub down the project. Buff lightly after 30 minutes
and add another coat. You can achieve an attractive effect by using artist’s
burnt umber. Allow to dry overnight.

Environmental benefits include:

• Made of natural materials, minimally processed
• No solvents, no VOCs
• Extremely durable
• No waste. Mix just what you need.
• Only a faint milk smell when wet; odorless when dry

Average Price Per Gallon: $36

Brands: BioShield, Real Milk Paint

Purchase from: Environmental
Home Center or Bioshield
Paint or Real
Milk Paint

This paint is made from natural ingredients and does not
contain acrylics or other plastics. The lime in it is slaked, meaning it
cures by reacting with oxygen in the air. Other ingredients include a type
of clay, marble dust, a natural glue and water.

This paint works on all wall surfaces, from wood to drywall to masonry.
It is intended for interior surfaces.

Lime paint allows homeowners and professional painters
to create these beautiful effects authentically. Painted on and left to
dry, lime paint has a lush, velvety look. Polished, the paint glows in
a way that’s unlike any other surface treatment. Walls appear to have texture,
but they feel smooth. People will want to touch them.

Price Per Gallon: $48

Brands: Olivetti

Purchase from: Environmental
Home Center