Eco-friendly paints

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• Choosing the right type of paint
• Floor paint
• Water-based or oil-based paints
• Exterior, masonry and woodwork paint
• Eco-friendly paints
• Paint glossary
• Paint directory

The “organic” paint brands, such as Ecos, which emerged in the late 1980s, heralded a new era of odourless paints, free of solvents and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and paved the way for other companies' environmentally safe formulas. Paints with reduced or no VOCs are healthier for decorators and the people whose homes are painted with them.

The leading brands now flag up paints with lower VOCs and produce paints that are virtually odour-free – the Breatheasy range by Crown is one example. Most leading brands now produce high-quality water-based acrylic paints which outperform the older technologies of vinyl and oils.

Today, it is increasingly easy to source ecologically sound paints, as most specialist ranges, such as Ecos, Earthborn (pictured), Georgina Barrow and Auro are available via mail order. There is a wealth of colour options in these pre-mixed ranges that include lush shades and muted palettes, reflecting their natural ingredients.

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