Do Earthborn paints include petrochemical ingredients?
Earthborn take a holistic approach to environmental issues and consider not only what goes into paint but also, perhaps more importantly, what comes out. There are instances in which the alternative to a petrochemical based ingredient can be more harmful to the environment or health than the petrochemical derivative itself.
The key to this discussion is carbon emissions. Some petrochemical ingredients used in paints cause carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming, but not all. Some alternative ingredients also cause carbon emissions.
The best way to check a paint’s carbon emissions is to look for the VOC content declaration on its label (now required by law)...the higher the VOC content the higher the carbon emissions.
Certain products within our range do contain petrochemical derivatives, but the petrochemical free alternatives to these are more damaging to health and the environment.
Additionally, where we do use petrochemical based ingredients, we use only very low levels and they are ‘locked into’ the paint. This way, the paints create either zero or very low carbon emissions.
Earthborn Claypaint, Emulsion and proAqua - are virtually VOC free.
Are Earthborn paints traditional paints?
‘Traditional is a term frequently used to convey an image or feel. In many cases, it is used as a smokescreen to obscure the fact that the paint is a conventional chemical paint and, in fact, refers to little other than the colour shades and names. The term should not be confused with natural, eco friendly or environmentally friendly.
Most Earthborn paints are not traditional in any way; we use advanced formulations and modern technology to produce paints that fit with Earthborn's ecological principles without compromising performance.
There is an increasing number of new paint brands on the market, many with traditional sounding names. It would be easy to presume many of these are ‘natural’ paints but they probably are not. Most independent paint companies use recipes based on formulations and technology emanating from the large multinational chemical companies.
However, earthborn clay paints are perfect for traditional houses as they are breathable, have great coverage and a beautiful finish.
Presumably I have to compromise on quality or price to benefit from Earthborn paints?
No. Earthborn paints are competitively priced compared to other leading, quality brands of decorative paint. Their quality is second to none, equalling or exceeding the performance of comparable conventional paints in nearly all respects. Earthborn paints are formulated to meet high performance criteria, not to maximise profit margins.
Are Earthborn products suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
None of the Earthborn products are tested on animals and all are suitable for vegetarians. However, vegans should note that our casein paints contain milk products.
I suffer from allergies/asthma. Will Earthborn paints help?
Many allergy and asthma sufferers experience benefits when using Earthborn products. There are a number of reasons for this:
- careful ingredient selection that relies on natural ingredients rather than heavily processed chemicals
- the breathability of our paints, in particular the moisture absorbing qualities of Claypaint, helps even out the humidity in a room, making for a healthier, more comfortable living environment
- the clay in Earthborn Claypaint emits negative ions; higher ambient levels of negative ions are widely accepted as being beneficial to health and wellbeing, especially for allergy and asthma sufferers
- Claypaint’s high clay content helps to destroy airborne odours and contaminants
- less static electricity build up, so reducing dust and allergens.
A full declaration of ingredients on the Earthborn product datasheets allows customers to make an informed choice.