Green paintings and coatings have become an increasingly popular alternative to more traditional building materials, which may harbor harmful chemicals, both for individuals and the environment. Today, there are hundreds of different paints with low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, which can produce the same results as traditional paints without the dangerous fumes and environmentally-toxic properties.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your home harbors more pollutants than the air outside, mainly due to a lack of ventilation. When an individual chooses to use a paint with high VOCs, it can lead to headaches, fatigue, dizziness, breathing problems and even disease. Even after paint is dry, it can still release carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde and pesticides for years. Luckily, there are many different types of eco-friendly paintings, coatings and high-performance epoxies that are custom formulated for commercial and industrial applications.

Paints with low or no VOCs are usually created through the use of water as a base rather than oil. To be considered low VOC< a paint must have less than 200 grams of volatile compound per liter; varnishes are allowed up to 300 grams. To receive a Green Seal standard, a paint must have VOC limits of 50 grams or less. And ultra low or no VOC paints can’t have more than 5 grams of VOC per liter.

For interiors, individuals could chose low or no VOC paints such as: • Clay paint, which is created from earth-based minerals and a water-based solvent; colors are typically include natural earth tones and textures.

• Lime wash, an inexpensive green alternative created from limestone and water. This paint can be used indoors or outdoors and creates a unique, glowing finish that’s 100 percent natural, as well as long-lasting.
• Milk paint, which is produced from casein, a natural milk protein, that is mixed with water, clay and natural pigments. It comes in powder form; once it is mixed with water, it must be used within a day.

For outdoors, fewer low VOC paint options are available. However, many paints with higher-than-desirable VOC levels for exteriors do ensure to exclude any heavy metals or other toxins from their products. Eco-friendly coatings do not come in the wide range of options available for paints, but more companies are looking for green alternatives. Similar to paints, green coatings tend to be water based, and many are solvent-free and produce no harmful emissions during the application process.