Is ‘green’ paint more expensive?

Painting can make homes more attractive and can give an aesthetic looks as well. Apart from its beautifying qualities it may prove hazardous to occupants health and can have a negative impact on the indoor quality of the building or home as they may contain toxic components, harmful chemicals. These health and environmental affecting issue can be eliminated by using low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints since low VOC paints has less odour and reduces pollutants and can impact less on the health and environment. Still there is a myth that low VOC paints may be very expensive. To clarify, whether low VOC paints are really expensive we bring an article that will clear the understanding on the same.

Paints tend to release certain level of toxic emissions in the air as they dry. The cause behind this is the high level of VOC present in the paint. Volatile organic compounds or VOC are organic chemicals that have high vapour pressure. There are two basic type of paints one is water-based and other is solvent-based. Solvent- based also referred to as oil-based paints contain higher level of organic compound. Concentration of VOC is higher indoors. These paints are perilous for all living beings and the environment too. Some of the health problems caused by VOC are eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, visual impairment, memory loss etc. Apart from these, solvent-based paints also cause damage to the ozone layer resulting in global warming.

Briefing on whether low VOC paints are more expensive Ashok Kularia, Managing Director, ANJ Group says, “Fortunately, there are low VOC paints easily available in the market today. These are the other kind of paints (the water-based paints). Using a low VOC paint doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality or shades that you want. There are hundreds of shades available in low VOC paints as well. These paints can be used for both interiors as well as exteriors and on masonry walls, metal and wood.”

Apart from providing over all excellent results, low VOC paints have the following benefits:
• Excellent fungal reduction
• Surface gloss retention
• Non-yellowing
• Water-based
• High wash ability
• Low odour
• Faster drying and recoatability time
• Excellent wet scrub and stain resistance
• Ease of application
• Smooth and pleasing finish
• Non flammable.

Kularia adds, “Surprisingly, low VOC paints don’t cost more than conventional paints. You can easily find low VOC paints at the same cost as conventional paints. With all these benefits at affordable prices, you can assure the good health of your family and those who visit your home. Using a low VOC paint is also in the best interest of our environment.”

Just like Kularia, Jaimin Desai, Head-Design & Sustainability, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd also believes Volatile organic compounds or VOCs are substances or materials which are used in paints in order to enable them to dry easily and quickly. These are considered to be toxic and the release of volatile organic fumes from VOC paints is generally harmful to the environment. “Low-VOC paints have comparatively low levels of volatile organic compounds. Interestingly enough, they are not more expensive than regular paints in most cases,” says Desai.

Increasing environmental concerns and rising awareness levels regarding the benefits of such paints means that preferences are increasingly shifting towards the same. “At Mahindra Lifespaces, we use low VOC paints, adhesives and insulations inside units to maintain better indoor air quality,” informs Desai.

Nippon Paint is the first paint manufacturing company in India to bring the VOC standards in paint and received the Green Pro certification from CII. “It is a myth that green products are expensive and few companies try to take advantage over it. Usage of eco-friendly products is eventually the alleyway over the years to come, which can be bought at a competitive price like any other product. Nippon Paint’s mission is to provide society with advanced products that increase the quality of life while protecting the environment through innovative technology,” informs Mahesh Anand, President- Decorative, Nippon Paint (India).

Anand says, “The Indian paint industry has been witnessing a gradual shift in the preferences of people for higher quality paints with decorative paints having the maximum demand. There have been many functional properties made possible with paints, for example, anti-bacterial. We have recently launched a paint that is anti-viral, and has Silver-Ion technology. We are known for our formaldehyde abatement paint called Odourless Aircare (with Active Carbon technology). Now, with Virus guard, we are planning to promote this functional range of paints with better focus.

Nippon Paint is the one paint manufacturer in Asia, and among the leading paint manufacturers of the world. “We are driven by the philosophy of enhancing life through innovations that not only serve customer aspirations, but also protect the world we live in. Our own work lays emphasis on human and eco-friendly products. Nippon Paint brings international quality and high-tech paints,” says Anand.

Nippon Paint provides an impressive collection of Emulsions (for interiors and exteriors), enamels, and undercoats for a wide range of surfaces from cement to metal to wood. Its interior emulsions include breakthrough odour-less technology, low VOC, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, easy washability, hiding, durability and more. The exterior paints consist of properties like water-resistance, dirt-pickup-resistance, anti-algae, anti-fungi, alkali-resistance and UV-resistance which protects and preserve the freshness of home. Undercoats help ensure the adhesion of paint to the surface, increase the durability of the paint itself, and protect the surface that is being painted while the metal and wood coatings helps keep them beautiful and healthy.

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