Paint products are complex and their impact on health and the environment is often not fully understood by the general public. Therefore, to give responsible manufacturers higher chances to get noticed ...
Paint quality guarantees
Upon purchasing a paint product, eco labels on the product packaging provides the end-user with the necessary verifications about the product quality and its environmental impact.
To obtain the rights for using certain label, paint products are required to fulfill the material, environment, health and manufacturing standards.
Paint products may comply with requirements taking into account several aspects:
-
Restricted use of hazardous chemicals. -
Use of renewable, recycled and sustainably managed sources of materials. -
Reducing the embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions in the manufacture of products. -
Improving the environmental performance of the product in its useful life.
End-users who are conscious of their personal health and the environmental benefits, should consider choosing among paint products meeting more stringent requirements than the typical mainstream products. Most recognised eco labels for paint products in Europe are:
-
Nordic Ecolabel or "Swan"Nordic Ecolabel demonstrates that a product is a good environmental choice. The "Swan" symbol, as it is known in Nordic countries, is available for 65 product groups, including paints. The Swan guarantees that products fulfill certain criteria using methods such as samples from independent laboratories, certificates and control visits
-
Cradle to Cradle Certified (CM)Cradle to Cradle Certification is a sustainability label that requires achievement across multiple at tributes and guarantees for the end user that used materials are safe for human health and the environment through all use phases; product and system design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; use of renewable energy; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production company strategies for social responsibility.
-
EU EcolabelFor end user, EU Ecolabel guarantee: Minimized content of hazardous substances, Reduced content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs): x g/l and good performance for indoor and outdoor paint products. As well the EU Ecolabel provide exigent guidelines for paint companies looking to lower their environmental impact and guarantee the efficiency of their environmental actions through third party controls
-
Blue AngelThe Blue Angel label specifies that the paint product focuses on one of four different protection goals: health, climate, water, and resources. The Blue Angel promotes the concerns of both environmental protection and consumer protection. Therefore it is a warded to paint products which are particularly beneficial for the environment in an all-round consideration and which also fulfill high standards of occupational health and safety and fitness for use.
Related articles
All consumer products have either positive or negative impact on the social, cultural, environmental and economical dimensions. Today there is a worldwide growing trend of increased demand for more ethica...
The European Union (EU) has numerous regulations for the paint products defining their sustainability criteria, evaluating the most common hazards related to the paint ingredients, setting limits for emis...
