New report: What is the environmental impact of paint?
Without environmental product declarations available, it is a struggle to grasp paint’s climate impact. Over the past year, we have been on a journey to unpack the environmental effects of paint products. Our report is now available to download.
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Martha Lewis
Head of Materials, Architect
There is little transparency for consumers when it comes to paint – both in terms of environmental impact and chemical content. Together with Forbrugerrådet Tænk (The Danish Consumer Council), The Danish Technological Institute, and Aalborg University, we deep-dived into the material’s contents to better understand its effect on our health and planet.
The research project, 'Undesired Substances in Paint,' includes a comprehensive review of the environmental and human health impacts of 30 indoor white paints available on the Danish market (20 for walls and 10 for wood or metal trim). The consolidated report published by TÆNK includes an evaluation of chemical content and indoor air emissions and includes 3 case studies. Supplementary reports by Henning Larsen and Aalborg University evaluate the climate impact and plastic content of the products.
The 30 products are ranked based on their chemical content and emissions. Overall, mineral paint proves to be more climate-friendly than plastic paint, and most test well regarding substances of concern and off-gassing. Paint with a higher mineral content also has a markedly lower potential for contributing to microplastic pollution.
“Mineral based paints achieve a higher level of coverage with fewer layers, which is in part why their global warming potential impacts are less than paints with plastic binders.”
Martha Lewis
Head of Materials, Architect
“Our findings highlight a focus on the amount of paint used, raising the question of whether this is as much an aesthetic decision as it is about consumer preference. While indoor paint can be functional in some cases, it often serves just an aesthetic purpose. Wanting perfectly covered, uniform walls has a bigger environmental impact. in light of the serious consequences of climate change, perhaps our perception of what makes design beautiful needs to change?
It is important to consider whether paint is indeed essential, by assessing each application within a project. If you’re using paint, consider how you can minimize the amount of paint used. Mineral based paints achieve a higher level of coverage with fewer layers, which is in part why their global warming potential impacts are less than paints with plastic binders.” – Martha Lewis, Head of Materials.
Take a deep dive into the full report in either Danish or English below (we recommend opening the report in Adobe Reader to access the data sources).
To learn more about the health risks associated with the paint products studied, be sure to also read TÆNK’s guide to paint.
