The Impact of Paint on the Environment and Human Health

The Environmental Impact of Paint: Lead, VOC’s, Microplastics and More

By Ellen Rubin

Paint is such an integral part of our lives that we don’t give it much thought, even though we’re surrounded by it. The average person may be aware of some of the dangerous aspects associated with paint, but probably doesn’t really think about it unless they’re planning on refreshing a room or improving their home’s exterior. But paint, its uses and effects, are more far-reaching than you might imagine.

What I didn’t realize, until studying the subject, is how impactful, both environmentally and human-health wise, most paints are. As with any product, the production, use, and disposal phases of the life-cycle each create a unique set of problems. Paint impacts the quality of the air, water (both ground and ocean), and soil. Listed in the order in which the hazard came to public awareness, there are three general categories of paints’ harm:

• Lead
• VOCs
• Microplastic pollution

While each primarily impacts either air (VOCs), water (microplastics), or earth (lead), they have ties to other harms and are interconnected. These are only the broad strokes that have significant impacts on both humans and the environment, and each has problem areas during the production, use, and after-use or disposal stages. Although the need for paint is real and impactful beyond any cosmetic purposes of “pretty,” its hazards can’t be ignored. It’s important to be aware of them, take steps to mitigate them, and, when possible, choose the most sustainable alternatives.

After explaining the basic ingredients of the different types of paint, you’ll understand why there are environmental issues. Latex paint is emphasized because it’s more widely used than oil-based paint, and we don’t discuss the separate issues of spray paints or powder coatings. We’ll also briefly touch on some paints that are much safer to use.

As a whole, the industry is moving toward creating more sustainable options, but the current reality is that most paints still have a much larger impact on our environmental and individual health than we realize.

Further Reading:

• Environmental impact of paint – Wikipedia
• The Environmental And Health Impact of Paint Products
• Exterior Paints: Long-Term Protection and Environmental Tradeoffs
• Is Scotchgard Safe? (+ Non-Toxic Alternatives)

Types of Paint & Their Ingredients

Three main catagories of ingredients make up paint: pigments to color, binders to act as a glue, and solvents to create a usable consistency. Each can be either sustainable or have hazardous implications. As paint dries, solvents evaporate, leaving the pigments and binders to create a film coating. This is why paint will flake, peel off, or turn to dust rather than melt or dissolve.

Pigments

There are both natural and synthetic pigments, or coloring particles, available. Most paints contain titanium dioxide (TiO2), a white pigment used to create the opacity needed for every color. Most negative effects occur during its production rather than its usage. For instance, mining operations pollute ground water and use scarce resources. Its production is energy intensive because high temperatures are needed to bind titanium to airborne oxygen.

Production creates CO2, N2O, SO2, NOx, CH4, and VOCs, acids and metal sulfates whose emissions are responsible for 75% of the carbon footprint associated with paint production.

Once produced, TiO2 nanoparticles, when exposed to UV light, can oxidize organic compounds in the air. As paint ages, it releases nanoparticles that are now the worldwide highest produced nanomaterial by mass.

While there are issues with TiO2, it replaced lead oxide, or lead white, a more dangerous pigment. Although titanium is a heavy metal that can cause many health issues, TiO2 itself hasn’t been shown to have significant health effects on people or the environment at this time. If you want to avoid TiO2 in your paint, look for eco choices that use chalk or lime as a replacement; however, these paints have a much lower opacity level and may require many coats to get adequate coverage.

Other metallic-based pigments you might find in paint include iron oxide for red, yellow, and ochre, and chrome green oxide. Organic pigments include Phthalocyanine for blues, earth for ochre and sienna, coal tar for carbon black (a petroleum distillate), or plant-based pigments. Extender pigments include calcite (calcium carbonate), talc (Magnesium silicate), mica, and barytes (barium sulphate).

Binders

The binders are the glue that holds the color pigments together to create a paint that attaches to a surface. Different paints have different binder to pigment ratios. The higher the binder proportion, the better the quality of the paint.

“Latex” paint is “water-based” paint. While originally natural latex–the milky liquid substance found in certain flowing plants like the rubber tree, was used–it has since been replaced with synthetic polymers. Acrylic is most suitable for exteriors while vinyl is used for interior paints. Lower cost paints may be made with poly vinyl acetate (PVA). All these compounds are fossil-fuel based.

Oil-based paints use natural or synthetic binders that oxidize when the paint is exposed to air, hardening the paint. Natural oil binders include linseed oil, tung oil, or modified vegetable soya oil. Once modified, they create alkyds (polyester resins) so that they will dry faster and harder than natural oil. Synthetic resins may be used, especially in enamel paints.

Environmentally, it’s important to note that the binder is the part of the paint that creates microplastics. I’m probably not the only person who has scraped off a scrap of the paint, only to be able to pull off a flexible thin sheet of colored plastic. This is the aspect of paint that pollutes our oceans and soil because once the solvents evaporate, the remaining pigments and binders are left.

Solvents

Solvents are added to binders and pigments to create a paint consistency that keeps the pigments suspended and makes the paint easier to apply. Latex paints use primarily water, oil paints use organic solvents like turpentine. It’s the solvent that evaporates to create a “coat” of paint.

Solvents that are commonly used, in addition to water, are petroleum-based like alkanes, isoparaffins, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methylated spirits (methanol mixed with ethanol), xylene, toluene, or acetone. Almost all paints also contain a bit of organic solvents such as alcohols, esters, or ketones.

Paints also include some minor additives that prevent bacterial growth, either thin or thicken paint, prevent a “skin” from forming, accelerate or retard drying, or prevent the paint from foaming. All elements to make the paint easier to apply, prolong its life in the can, resist mold, premature drying, sagging, or scuff marks.

• Preservatives used include isothiazolinone.
• Paint driers are usually minerals such as cobalt, manganese, cerium, zirconium, or calcium. Cobalt is the most troubling metal.
• Surfactants are used to reduce the surface tension of the water so the paint is easier to spread. The most dangerous to humans have largely been replaced with less toxic substitutes.
• Paints may also contain hints of formaldehyde and arsenic.

Chemical biocides are added to destroy, deter, or control bacterial, fungal, or algal growth, both in the can and as a cured surface. They are used primarily to protect the paint itself, especially in exterior paints, so you don’t see your freshly painted house grow mold or algae. However, as a surface ages, weathering and water run-off of the painted surface washes the chemicals into the soil and down to ground waters, affecting animal, plant, aquatic, and human life.

This leaching occurs throughout the life of the paint and bioaccumulates. This means that as you go up in a food chain, the toxicity increases at each step. Biocides impact soil quality and may kill or control non-target organisms. They may interfere with DNA synthesis and photosynthesis creating long-term risks to every living thing – plant and animal, aquatic and terrestrial. Currently, the levels of biocides found in the soil and organisms are reaching the allowable safe limits.

Biocide levels are highly legislated in Europe through the Biocidal Product Directive and in the US by the EPA that limits the allowability of mercury and other heavy metal compounds. There is no global governing legislation.

The components of paint – pigments, binders, and solvents – each present different risks. The diagram below charts the basic relationship of ingredient (inner circle) to toxic element (middle ring) to hazardous effect (outer ring). The diagram is proportioned based on the ingredient content of a typical can of paint. An explanation of each of the three main hazards is discussed below.

Lead Content in Pigments Affect Human Health

As I was growing up, I heard a lot about the negative health effects of lead-based paints, probably because the first regulations were being enacted. Lead paint has been around since the 4^th century BC, but the dangers first became quantified in the 1920’s. There was no legislation regulating its use until Baltimore banned the sale of residential lead-based paint in 1951 and New York City in 1960.

The first national “ban” of its use for residential housing was announced in the US in 19278 by the US Consumer Project Safety Commission. What wasn’t publicized is that the ban was only for some home-focused paints and not all paint, so lead-based paint is still available and still an environmental and health issue.

UNICEF has reported that ⅓ of the world’s children are still affected by lead poisoning. (Statista) The greatest numbers, over 984 million, are in Asia and Africa, while another 63 million are affected in the Americas and Europe. Lead can be swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, although most enters our bodies through inhaling. It’s stored in bones, blood and tissues and as you age and your bones demineralize, the lead is released back into the body.

The risks of lead poisoning are brain and nervous system damage, stunted growth, kidney damage, delayed development, lower IQs, behavioral problems, hearing problems, headaches, vomiting, hyperactivity, and learning disabilities. These effects can’t be reversed.

Children, whose bodies are developing rapidly, are the most susceptible to lead poisoning. They are also the most likely to encounter it in larger quantities. As paint starts to decay, it fragments into flakes and dust that contaminate indoor and outdoor environments. Children are much more likely to touch dusty objects and then put their hands and/or objects in their mouths. We’ve all seen young children chew on toys or touch outdoor play equipment and not wash their hands before eating.

For adults, pregnant women who are exposed to lead are at higher risk of reduced fetal growth, pre-term birth, lower birth weight, or even spontaneous abortion. Even at low levels, lead has adverse health effects such as elevated blood pressure, renal impairment, or immunotoxicity. At its worst, lead poisoning can cause seizures, coronary heart disease, and death.

In 2017, 1.06 million deaths were attributed to lead exposure, not to mention the 24+ million years lost to disability and death because of the long-term effects on health through hypertension, heart disease, increased stroke risk, or developmental intellectual disabilities. I’m not implying that paint is responsible for all this, because we know that lead water pipes are still used in some places, but it is an enduring contributing factor.

If lead paint has so many adverse health effects, why are we still using it?

Lead is useful for the pigmentation of paint to create bright and vibrant whites, yellows, and reds. It’s a primary ingredient in red and pink primers. It also makes the paint more moisture resistant, durable, and faster drying. Lead paint is still used in buildings, to coat metals, and in children’s toys.

It’s commonly sold in at least 45 countries worldwide, usually for “industrial” applications and on metal surfaces, road markings, agricultural equipment, steel structures, and auto paint. However, it’s easy enough for consumers to buy paint with lead, even in the US, when it’s an imported product or it’s earmarked as industrial rather than residential.

It’s still sitting on the shelves with all the other paints. In high-gloss and solvent-based paints, 10% of the weight of a can of paint may be lead. The other way lead “sneaks” into paint is as part of another ingredient. It isn’t listed separately, but there nonetheless.

The International Conference on Chemicals Management formed the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint during their 2009 meeting. There are currently 90 organizations who are partners in the alliance and their goal is to phase out lead paint or, at the very least, minimize occupational exposure.

The UN Environmental Programme, the World Health Organization, and in the US the Environmental Protection Agency, are all involved. The Alliance created a “Model Law and Guidance for Regulating Lead Paint” to assist countries in creating or modifying existing laws to lower the amounts of lead to within safe parameters. Since it’s very difficult to ensure there is zero lead in paint, they set an achievable limit of 90ppm total lead in any paint.

The Alliance hopes to prohibit the manufacture, selling, or importing of paint that exceeds these legal limits through inspection and penalties for noncompliance. There are at least 100 countries that still lack any legal limits on lead content. Eastern Europe and Asia have the most offenders and lead paint is common. Some countries, notably the Philippines, have placed strict limits of 90 ppm for all paints, not just industrial paints.

Even if lead levels in new paint are restricted, there are still some issues because the use of lead has been so pervasive for so long. If leaded paint is left completely undisturbed, the lead is not hazardous. However, realistically, this is an impossibility.

Age and use cause flaking, chalking, or scratching so the paint becomes dust or tiny airborne particles. This is usually what gets inhaled or somehow finds its way into little mouths. Friction-prone windows frames, doors, baseboards, cupboards, gutters, metal surfaces, or siding are all household items that frequently used lead paint. If you have an older house with likely lead paint, covering it with a fresh coat of paint is one way to mitigate the issue as long as it doesn’t have to be sanded first.

Not only is the lead hazardous to humans, but it’s also an issue for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

While lead is the most problematic heavy metal in pigments, it is by no means the only one. Chromium is used in primers, hexavalent chromium is widely used in aerospace and auto refinishing, zinc chromate is used to create the zinc yellow or yellow 36 that was often preferred by artists, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, aluminum, cadmium, mercury, and mica flakes are also used. None of these metals and compounds are biodegradable and they tend to accumulate in organisms causing disorders and diseases, with the damage being irreversible.

If you want more information on lead exposure, please see any of the following:

• Data Mapping to Identify High Lead Exposure Risk Locations in the U.S. | US EPA
• Global Lead Pollution Map
• Lead Contamination In Water Affects Over 18 Million People (anonhq.com)
• Lead Pollution – Our World in Data

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Solvents Affect Air Quality

VOCs, released by the solvents in paint, are also dangerous to humans and environments. They are the smelly part of paint that makes you dizzy, nauseous, and headachy. Other symptoms may include skin irritation, lung and breathing difficulties, weakness, liver and kidney damage, nervous system damage, and even an increased risk of cancer, not to mention the environmental damage associated with VOCs.

The purpose of solvents is to help paints keep their consistency and easily evaporate when exposed to air. Common VOCs include formaldehyde, chloride, methylene, and benzene, ethyl benzene, and xylene. The EPA defines VOCs as “compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants.”

There are also naturally occurring VOCs from plants, but it’s estimated that 90% of these are actually beneficial to humans, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the airways just two examples. Conversely, synthetic VOCs used in the production of paints are generally harmful, and they are emitted into the surrounding environment as paint dries.

While half of paint’s VOCs are released during the first year of application, the other half is released slowly over the lifespan of the paint. This contributes to creating an indoor air quality that is 2-5 times worse than outdoor air quality. If you are stripping paint it can skyrocket up to 1,000 times higher. These figures may be an underrepresentation because the EPA doesn’t classify some possible paint ingredients, like acetone and ammonia, as VOCs since they don’t contribute to the formation of ozone. Nonetheless, they are still harmful to humans and the environment.

While it’s easy to see that VOCs harm people; how they harm the environment is less obvious.

As paint is exposed to the air, and especially as it’s drying and solvents are evaporating, VOCs are released. In oil-based paint, the VOCs react with other airborne pollutants and sunlight to form peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), a greenhouse gas. For latex paint, when the VOCs react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sunlight they form ground-level ozone (O3), a key component of smog.

Ground-level ozone is different than the beneficial and necessary ozone that protects the earth in the outer reaches of our atmosphere. Rather than protecting the earth from ultraviolet rays, even low concentrations of ground-level ozone decreases lung function and is especially dangerous for people with conditions like asthma.

Ozone is also a damaging air pollutant that negatively impacts crops by interfering with photosynthesis and plant respiration. Leaves burn and become damaged. High ozone levels can even eventually lead to genetic changes and species’ compositions. If you follow this disruption to its logical conclusion, ground ozone disrupts food and forest production, which negatively impacts water regulation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity.

Some paint pigments, fungicides, and biocides that are also VOCs contaminate groundwater, affecting our drinking water supplies.

Given the harm, especially to humans, many manufacturers are now promoting their products as low- or zero-VOC. That labelling has been codified in many parts of the world.

• Zero VOC paint must have less than 5 g/L.
• Low VOC paint must have less than 50 g/L.
• Typical latex paint has 50-150 g/L so a gallon of paint will release 300g of VOCs.
• Typical oil-based paint has 380-550 g/L.

Keep in mind that 90% of architectural coatings are water-based paint, not oil-based. Also, better quality paints have a higher percentage of solids, and VOC levels decrease as the solid content increases. Most paints fall into the 25-45% solid count range.

The preference for low- or zero-VOC paint may be a desire to avoid the smell associated with paint and not concern over the environment, but the result is the same – hazardous air pollutants have decreased. The EPA Toxic Release Inventory has reported that VOCs have shown a decrease of 94% since 1990 as the amount of hazardous chemicals in architectural coatings has drastically decreased. For more information from the EPA see: Ground-level Ozone Basics | US EPA.

Microplastic Pollution from Paint Binders

We’ve explored the main solid and air pollutants from the pigments and the solvents. Binders also have negative environmental and human impacts, especially by polluting our water supplies. This is the latex/acrylic/vinyl that’s left behind once the water and solvents evaporate. Think about it – you are placing a coat of fossil-fuel-based plastic on a surface.

Eventually, like all other plastics, it degrades or is removed, creating microplastic dust or flakes that have to go somewhere. It finds its way into the air and our water supplies! From there, it’s inhaled or ingested by plants, animals, and humans. This isn’t a small problem; 33-37% of the average can of paint is made up of plastic polymer.

The facts:

• 58% of all microplastic pollution comes from paint.
• 5,737 tons (5205 tonnes) of paint-derived microplastics pollute the oceans daily.
• 1.65–2.48 million tons (1.5–2.25 million tonnes) enter marine environments annually from steel surfaces alone, the equivalent of 150-225 billion empty plastic bottles.
• 8.8 million tons (8 tonnes) of microplastics enter the oceans every year.

Oceanic microplastic paint pollution is not evenly distributed throughout the world. For instance, the microplastics from paint around North America is only 22% of the total, while the Pacific Ocean around Asia bears 54% of the total microplastic leakage.

18% of the paint microplastics found in the ocean originally come from the maintenance of commercial ships, port structures, offshore oil rigs, and now wind farms, while approximately 35% is due to waste management, including polyester fibers in clothing. Almost half comes from the architectural sector.

Each oil rig releases around 1,100 kg (2,425 pounds) of paint microplastics and 260 kg (573 pounds) of heavy metals into the ocean yearly. This is the equivalent of more than 100,000 empty bottles being dumped into the ocean every year. There are currently 1,470 offshore oil rigs.

Industrial and marine paint has an average life of 20 years. That means that 5% of the paint will organically fall off every year. Of the 42 billion liters of industrial and domestic paint used globally every year, 6.3 billion liters are industrial paint with a significant portion used by the marine sector so the amount of paint shed directly into our oceans is astronomical.

Paint is important for all these structures. It protects against corrosion and degradation, increasing their lifespan and preventing frequent replacement or maintenance. For instance, anti-fouling, or bottom paint, with additives such as biocides and fungicides, protect the hulls of boats from marine organisms like barnacles, algae, and mollusks whose build-up create a drag on ships. It allows ships to be more fuel efficient and prevents the spread of invasive species, enhancing both durability and functionality.

Anti-fouling paints usually contain compounds such as tributyltin. The downside of these compounds is that they are considered toxic to humans and the environment and bioconcentrate up the marine predator’s food chain. In humans, they have been linked to obesity because it triggers the genes that cause the growth of fat cells. These coatings often also contain soluble pigments, minerals, or metals such as lead or cuprous oxide (Cu2). The Cu2 is made from scrap copper which usually contains lead solder residue.

While paint is important to prevent corrosion, one step that can be taken to prevent microplastic pollution, especially for water-bound structures, is to avoid traditional sandblasting and water jetting processes for surface maintenance. Replace this with systems that contain a waste collection apparatus for responsible disposal. What is needed is regulation and enforcement of anti-pollution laws to reduce the amount of blasted material–with its toxic additives, heavy metals, and microplastics–from going directly into our waterways.

For humans, ingested microplastics damage organs, compromise immune function, hinder growth and reproduction, as well as contain and leach hazardous chemicals such as BPAs and pesticides. Microplastics also affect entire ecosystems by impacting soil health. Like many other hazards, such as lead, the impact becomes more concentrated as you go up the food chain.

Eco-Choices

Paint is not all bad. In addition to all the reasons it’s necessary for marine purposes listed above, paint preserves land-based structures.

Since it’s necessary, innovations and technical advances have been made toward reducing the negative aspects of paint, like VOC emissions and lead content of new paint, to make it less toxic and more ecologically safe. Not only have these innovations reduced the negatives, but advances have been made to create paints that are beneficial in areas such as energy savings.

In the past few years, researchers and scientists have been developing ultra-white radiative paints that reflect UV rays into the upper atmosphere that will drastically reduce the need for air conditioning.

Another area of interest has been in creating insulative or thermal paint. These create a layer on a surface that resists water, and prevents heat from escaping. These paints can minimize water damage, increase airflow, regulate temperatures, prevent mold growth, prevent wet spots on interior walls, and cracking or other damage on exterior walls. During winter they rebound heat back into a room rather than letting it escape through spaces in the wall, and in summer the outside heat can’t penetrate.

There have always been some options that avoid most, if not all, of the toxic elements in modern paints in the production, use, and disposal stages. Natural materials such as clay, chalk, milk proteins, lime, or earth can be used as the paint’s foundation. These break down naturally with very little or no environmental impact.

Some of the companies making the most ecological choices for interior walls include BioShield clay paint, Alkemis (which uses clear quartz and other minerals for pigments), Portola Paints limewashes, Ecos Paint, Clare Paint, Backdrop, Real Milk Co., and Graham & Brown. Rubio Monocoat made in Belgium, makes oil-based stains and Green Building Supply has a variety of options available.

Certifications & Legislative Controls

Another way to find eco-friendly paint is to look for certifications. Beware though, because there is as much greenwashing in the paint field as there is in other industries such as clothing. For instance, “vinegar ester” is a polite way of saying polyvinyl acetate; companies will try to mislead you about VOC levels, and “natural” doesn’t always mean low environmental impact or non-toxic.

There are some chemical compounds that aren’t legislated and aren’t counted as VOCs, like acetone, yet may be hazardous. If you can find a detailed listing of ingredients, look for water-based paints that have a lower percent of titanium oxide content and binders that are more sustainable.

Valid certifications include: Green Seal, EPA Design for the Environment, EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel in Germany, Milieukeur in the Netherlands, Cradle to Cradle, and Greenguard Gold. These certifications mean that the paint has lower VOC levels, and the manufacturing processes, packaging, and life cycle have all undergone examination for sustainability.

Some of the resources available to help you find sustainable options include:

• The GSA’s Green Procurement Compilation (GPC) is a comprehensive green purchasing resource designed for federal contracting personnel and program managers.
• The EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) provides a consolidated guide for latex paint, particularly the federal purchasing requirements for recycled paint content.
• BuildingGreen.com takes a whole-system perspective to help the design and building of construction projects. There are both print and electronic versions. They are the publishers of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec®.

There have been a number of regulations enacted to identify and encourage sustainable paint options while prohibiting the worst offenders. In 2010 the Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes, and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations was enacted with enforcement measures to enhance the pre-existing 2007 standards. (The EPA standards for low- and zero-VOCs is listed above.)

If you want to ensure that you get the safest paint possible, look for the Green Seal Standard (GS-11), which is even stricter than the EPA, and explicitly prohibits many chemicals. The American Coatings Association has the P & Q paint labeling standard that requires clear product identification, the inclusion of hazard warnings, and requires regulatory compliance for VOC content and other environmental standards.

In Europe, the EU Eco-label for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes is a voluntary program. It includes VOC and Volatile Aromatic Hydrocarbon limits, reduction of sulphur and titanium dioxide emissions during production, reduced hazardous waste byproducts, limits on heavy metals, and a guaranteed minimum for hiding power, wet-scrub resistance, water resistance, and adhesion.

China has enacted a 4% tax on any coating that has a VOC level exceeding 420 g/L to help reduce their air quality problems.

Waste, Disposal & Recycling

One of the best ways to be sustainable is to not purchase more than you need. Luckily, there are online tools available to help you make an accurate estimate. Even so, in the US, 10%, or 65 million gallons, of sold paint is discarded annually. In UK domestic markets, 25% of the paint goes unused. Inevitably, there is extra paint, not to mention clean up. The trick is to do it responsibly. Paint waste takes 700 years to decompose in landfills and, even then, you are adding toxic chemicals and heavy metals to the soil and groundwater.

The worst thing you can do is pour extra paint down the drain. If you have less than a portion of a can left and want to keep it for touch-ups, store it in cool dry conditions and ensure that it is properly sealed. It should last at least 10 years (oil-based paints last 15 years). If you don’t want to store or donate it, allow the can to dry out completely before disposal. You can also use sawdust, kitty litter, or a commercial paint hardener to speed the process. If the paint is oil-based, it is hazardous material and always needs to be dropped off at a hazardous waste station and not go in the garbage.

You can consider donating left-over paint to a local school (they may use it for drama clubs, etc.), or places like Habitat for Humanity or Global Paint for Charity.

Luckily, recycling programs for paint are becoming more popular. The American Coatings Association created PaintCare to “ensure the effective operation and efficient administration of paint product stewardship programs on behalf of all architectural paint manufacturers.”

Started in 2009, they now have more than 2,400 paint drop-off sites for unwanted paint that 61 million US residents have access to. To date, they have collected more than 72.4 million gallons of paint, 70% of which was latex. They also recycle tens of thousands of metal and plastic paint cans. Most of their drop-off sites are at local paint retailers.

Would you believe that waste paint could become a decorative material used in jewelry?

Fordite, also known as Motor City or Detroit Agate, is an accumulation of many layers of colorful automotive enamel that was overspray from the Ford Plant in Detroit. As cars were painted with acrylic lacquer the paint would stick to the tracks and skids used to move the cars along the assembly line.

Sources of more information, or to purchase Fordite jewelry, see Fordite.com, National Jeweler, Hagerty.

Similar programs are set up in Canada (more than 2 million gallons from 1,000+ locations) and the United Kingdom (more than 1.5 million gallons from 800+ locations).

Once the paint is collected, it is sorted by type – latex, oil-based, or aerosol – to be recycled. It is then separated by resin/polymer and pigment, assessed, then blended with virgin paint and resold. Any paint that is non-reusable may become an additive for cement manufacturers or used to produce biomass fuels.

This type of recycling is hugely impactful. Recycling a gallon of paint can save 100KWh of energy, 13 gallons of water, reduce Co2 emission by 115 pounds, and prevent groundwater contamination and air pollution.

The other aspect to minimizing paint’s environmental impact is for manufacturers to manage their waste. Even though 75% of coatings sales now involve improved techniques and solvent content with many toxic raw materials eliminated from the ingredients, the industry still uses large quantities of water and chemicals. This leads to large amounts of wastewater, 70% of which is released directly into natural bodies of water totaling up to 85 million gallons of wastewater per day.

This water also contains high levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Luckily, from 1995 to 2013 the industry reduced its total production waste by 48% and increased the percentage of recycled waste by 81%. Manufacturers now reclaim 97% of their waste solvents for future use. The waste problem, despite strides made, is still an issue.

For more information on paint recycling see Earth 911 or call 1-800-CLEANUP for disposal regulations in the US.

Final Thoughts…

We need paint to protect and prolong the usefulness of our buildings and structures. Besides, it makes life more colorful. Who hasn’t stood in front of the color wall at the hardware store and tried to pick out their favorite?

The trick is to find a way to produce, maintain, and recycle paint in ecological and healthful ways because many traditional formulations are just too hazardous to sustain. Looking at red paint just doesn’t justify poisoning our land and bodies from lead and titanium dioxide pigments, our air from ozone and VOC emissions, and our water from microplastic debris.

We just need to demand, support, and embrace the most practical, sustainable ways to manufacture and dispose of paint.