All water-based paint contains V.O.C's (Volatile Organic Compounds). These compounds are found in many products. They give off a vapor that has a nasty smell and can be harmful to our breathing, our eyes, cause nausea, headaches and in severe cases liver and kidney problems. According to the European standards, an environmentally friendly paint should contain less than 5% V.O.C's. Harlequin Paints is one of a few companies in South Africa who conform to these standards in their paint range and certain products in their varnish range.

We interviewed Tony from Harlequin Paints to find out the story.

1. What is the major difference between eco-friendly paint and regular pain?

Eco-paints in general are paints that, due to their make up, they have a lesser impact on the environment. This may be due to their low VOC content. Conventional paints as we know them contain solvents, nasty biocides, including formaldehyde, and other petrochemical components which may not only be non environmentally friendly but also have an adverse affect on the human and animal population      Image

2. If a buyer wants to buy eco-friendly paint, what does he/she have to look out for?

There are different levels of eco-friendly paint, this can range from completely natural products like milk paint to pine oils and crushed nut type paint, although these types of paint have there place, there durability and longevity might be in question.

In a conventional type of painting system look out for the words: low or no VOC's

The VOC content should be less than 5%.

3. What were the reasons behind your company deciding to manufacture eco-paint?

I have been involve in the paint industry for the last 35 years and for the first 25 years were exposed to paint fumes on a daily basis, When Harlequin Paint was born, It was a decision made then, we as a paint company was going to be very different from the other 350 paint companies in South Africa.

Paint is a very important part of our lives and it is used extensively. We wanted to be able to offer our clients not just paint but a paint that is not going to impact the environment and also the person that is applying it. Because it has no smell or very little its ideal to be used in any environment including schools hospitals and even offices

4. What exactly are V.O.C's (Volatile Organic Compounds) and how much difference does it make towards the paint?

VOC's were a vital part in the make up and performance of paint a few years ago, this fortunately has changed. Paint, as we know it, now no longer needs the addition of solvents for them to perform. This is due to technology changing world wide. Conventional paint can now be made with the minimum amount of not only solvents (VOC's) but also the nasty in can biocides    

5. Is there a large cost difference between using eco-friendly paint and conventional paint?

none at all.

6. How accessible is eco-friendly paint in South Africa for the average consumer?

Ah, this is the problem, it is quite difficult to get it all over South Africa Due to the dominance of the larger paint companies that are not solvent free, as a smaller niche market paint company we do distribute our Solvent free paints all over South Africa using our web site and selected Paint and Hardware

7. Are their as many options with eco paint as there are with regular paint, with regards to textures and colors?

There is no difference between the eco paint to conventional solvent paints in the application, durability or wide range of colors available. You would not know the difference, well the environment would.

Contributed by:

Harlequin Paints
+27 21 510 7252
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