Eco-paints made using graphene

The paints are changing expectations of what eco-paint can achieve

Spotted: If you have painted your walls recently, you likely recall the familiar scent of fresh paint. That aroma is actually the smell of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), like benzene and methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in the paint. The main purpose of VOCs is to aid in pigment flow and prolong shelf-life, but they also come with a host of medical risks, from triggering severe asthma and allergy attacks to acting as carcinogens.

The health risk is one reason why many paints are now low-VOC. However, Graphenstone paint has taken this one step further. The company produces one of the most sustainable paints on the market, which has been certified as harm-free by evaluators such as Cradle to Cradle Institute, Green Tag, and Eurofins Air Comfort.

In addition to being free from plastics, VOCs and MIT, some Graphenstone ranges also absorb CO2. They are also porous enough to allow walls to breathe, preventing the build-up of mould, allergens, and moisture which can create unsafe environments.

Graphenstone paints combine ethically sourced natural minerals, such as lime, silicate, clay, and chalk, with graphene, which is highly elastic. This reduces cracking and snagging and reduces the frequency of repainting, making the paints even more sustainable. The company was launched in 2017 and recently became the “preferred paint supplier” to the Eden Project and launched a collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum.

Although green paints have been gaining ground, it is estimated that plastic-based paint makes up almost 95 per cent of the global market, which topped 44.4 million tons in 2019. However, at Springwise we are seeing this begin to change, with innovations like a pigment made from cellulose and coatings made with sustainable biopolymers.

Written By: Lisa Magloff