Dulux Trade makes first step towards a sustainable paint
With 414 million litres being sold in the UK every year, paint is an extremely visible, high volume product, causing damage to the environment in a complex way.
But up until now the professional decorator and the specifier (the person doing the purchasing) have had very limited sustainable choices in paint. Whilst so called natural solutions from companies like Tierrafino and Earthborn may suit the home DIY enthusiast, issues such as price, coverage, availability and habit have hindered their uptake amongst the pros.
In May 2008, the market leader in the commercial sector Dulux Trade will launch Ecosure. Branded as a step towards greener, this new professional paint range was developed with the Innovations team at Forum for the Future and represents a genuine improvement in environmental performance for a product aimed at the conservative trade market.
There are numerous elements of the paint lifecycle that damage the environment and there is still much work to be done, especially around issues such as end-of-life and packaging. However with Ecosure, Dulux Trade and Forum for the Future have achieved two important goals – namely the reduction of embedded carbon and also VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
To achieve these environmental improvements, Forum for the Future developed a tool called the Impact Analyser. This allowed Dulux Trade to compare the performance of the new products with their top selling Standard Trade formulations from cradle to gate – i.e. from the point of extraction up until when the paint was sitting in cans and ready to be distributed from the factory.
This new thinking is being incorporated into other aspects of the industry and together with their partners Carillion and Dulux, Forum for the Future are looking at other improvements to the paint lifecycle in areas including distribution, brush washing systems and packaging.
Whilst Forum for the Future and Dulux Trade are keen to point out that Ecosure is only a first step, it sets an encouraging precedent.
Let’s hope that the paint has a decent chance to prove itself where it counts - on site.
Comments
It would be good if Dulux could give a comparison VOC with other eco paints like earthborn clay paintsand the Swedish one. Also, I am only interested in WHITE paint and some of the whites look extremely yellow - so a comparison of 'whites' would also be useful
I've had a few problems with your matt emulsion recently and I'm not alone. (prof dec talking here).
I'm finding it...
less smooth, and so harder to roll
gritty
I'm thinning it to avoid roller marks and to get an even finish
I'm thinning it more than ever when cutting in to cornices etc and end up doing it 3 times instead of two if the colour is strong.
Tom
Re. V.O.C. content in Dulux 'Ecosure' paint:
The Ecosure bases used by paint merchants to mix colour emulsions to order have a V.O.C content of 0.3% - 7.99%, which is exactly the same as the existing Dulux range (which hasn't changed for several years now.) So I.C.I. Dulux are selling Ecosure branded paint at a premium price, but without the claimed V.O.C. reduction.
I wanted to pick some of this paint up at my local hardware store, but it wasn't in stock. In a hurry, I took a can of Dulux one-coat white gloss, only to spot when I'd already painted half my staircase that it has between 25 to 50% volatile organic compounds. Not sure what a VOC is or means (the packaging didn't make it entirely clear, but it was nice that it had at least labelled the level as 'high') I had a browse on the internet.
It seems I've just put my baby daughter at a high risk of developing asthma or allergies due to the fact this paint emits toxic gases. She has had a funny cough since we started painting. So should I paint-strip and start again, paint over it with a less outgassing paint, or just remember to keep the house better ventilated? (word of warning to anyone who is thinking of draught-proofing their house too effectively!).
Having an eco version of a product is all well and good, but this really needs to be ramped up in partnership with a ban on toxic chemicals such as paints, varnishes and the rest. A first step would be regulation for paint cans similar to the warnings on cigarette packets. Bright orange warning labels on the front and more detailed instructions saying not to store in the house (as the US EPA details, http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html)
Well done FFTF for helping get this product made, now ICI better get their act together and shift their entire product range away from ones that give us poisonous houses.
I've been very impressed with -paints from ECOS and would recommend them as the genuine article..I too am suspicious of big companies jumping on the bandwagon..I want to see in their environmental track record to prove that environmental concerns are something they are willing to take seriously..I much prefer a company like ECOS that started out with the right criteria..Their paint are superior in coverage and ease of use than any other paint I've tried and I have tried 4 other eco paints. Prices are high but the coverage is so good it works out as affordable..and is worth a few more quid anyway to avoid the off gassing.
In short I'd avoid companies that are starting out with eco products until you can be sure they have got it right.
I have seen that Dulux Trade have just launched a new version of Ecosure Matt. It states that it has zero VOC and zero solvent. I went to buy it to repaint my living room and was really pleased to see that Dulux provided a more environmentally friendly paint. I think they should keep the pace regarding environment
just want to say hw good this stuff is it has excellent coverage an give a good solid coat to walls and frames, ppl who are using it when they have young one`s should know that all paint is harmful an should`nt use it when young 1`ns are around find a sitter for 24hrs or stop bein tight an employ a pro to do the job an go away for a day! back on the eco vibe! well done to dulux limited odour an brilliant coverage better then acrylic
Nice to know the big boys are finally thinking about the environment. Really hope others will follow.
David, you should do some research before posting comments like that. Dulux have a consortium group with other paint related companies and spend millions a year on research and development and part of this process is to minimise the damage to the environment (regulations insist that this is done and has been the case for many years)
Are you sure that this is not a cynical attempt by ICI ( with the help of forum for the future) to distract attention from the fact that petrochemical paints produced by ICI cause huge enviromental damage as well as harm human health.
I think its great Dulux are looking to make a change in their paint. Its really important we start making changes now in order to protect our enviroment for our futre and others. Good on ya Dulux!!
Hi please can anyone tell me where i can buy this, i have looked at most of the D I Y shops near where i live but cannot find it. Thanks Rachael
Hi Rachael
Ecosure is a trade paint. The new Ecosense paint, however, will be available in shops from March.
Liz
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