| | company: Auro
country: UK
product: organic paints
distribution: UK
|
context: paint is one of the most widely used DIY materials. Unfortunately, this popular activity has been recognised as having a negative impact on human health - paint are often carcinogenic substances - as well as on the environment:
- paint manufacture consumes a lot of energy, and normally produces up to 10 tonnes of waste, much of it toxic, for every tonne of paint - and this is even before you consider how toxic the paint itself can be!
- one of paint’s major hazards are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These evaporate, causing eye, nose and throat problems and headaches and contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone. They include known carcinogens, such as toluene and xylene. Most paints now carry VOC ratings. This is a voluntary move by paint manufacturers to show that they are beginning to behave in a more responsible manner. As a rule of thumb, it's best to go for the lowest possible VOC rating. Unfortunately, some water-based paints designed to be low in VOCs actually contain a larger number of other harmful chemicals - e.g. alkyl phenols and vinyl resins!
But for those who love spending the weekend painting or decorating their home, there are some interesting alternatives: a number of 'eco' or 'natural' paint manufacturers. They mean to use natural, biodegradable ingredients, which are harmless both to us and to our environment. The UK based firm Auro is one of these.
company: Auro is an organic paints manufacturer committed to respecting the environment. This includes not using petrol chemicals in their formulations, even when there is a cost advantage, and ensuring that their natural raw materials come from environmentally respectable sources in order to avoid the risk of toxic contamination. To provide consumers with their paint’s environmental credentials, all ingredients are always fully declared on the label.
product: everything paint related - waterbased gloss and eggshell paints; solvents and non-aggressive chemicals. Auro also has a line of ‘special for vegans’ products.
sustainability features: Auro’s concerns for consumer health and the environment has been officially recognised in different contexts and occasions:- in 1997, Auro was the only manufacturer of organic paints to receive certification as a result of an independent eco-audit according to EU standards;
- in 2003, Auro’s paints were voted 'favourite ethical product' (DIY/home improvement category) by readers of “The Ethical Consumer Magazine” (UK magazine on ethical consumption).
|
