Your Questions Answered
An attitude of
complete transparency and honesty is at the heart of
our approach to business. If there's something you
want to know about the natural eco paints and
products we supply, take a look through the answers
to the frequently asked questions below.
Alternatively, if you can't find the information
you're after, feel free to
contact us
and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
• How are
natural paints different to traditional mass-market
paint?
• Are natural paints more
expensive?
• VOC's - What are Volatile Organic
Compounds?
• MDF - Can eco paints be used on
medium density fibre-board?
• What are your manufacturer's
environmental principles?
• Are the product you supply tested on
animals?
• Can I get a full
declaration of product content?
• Are the eco paints you supply
safe for allergy sufferers?
• Are natural eco paints safe
for use during pregnancy?
• Which payment cards do you
accept?
• Why must the customer
address and cardholder address be the same?
• Can you ship to an
alternative address?
• Can goods be delivered to a
university if we pay by credit card?
• Colour Charts, Tester Pots and Colour Accuracy
How are
natural paints different to traditional mass-market
paint?
The mass-market paints commonly
found in DIY stores generally contain a cocktail of
synthetic and petrochemical preparations - including
many of the water based products - whereas the
environmentally friendly eco paint we supply is made
from natural and organic raw materials e.g. wood
resins, plant oils and earth pigments. These paints
are also produced in a more sustainable fashion and,
when the dried product waste is composted, a closed
environmental cycle is completed.
Unlike mass-market paints,
natural paints do not contribute to smog or release
chemicals which may harm the ozone layer.
Furthermore, people with allergies tend to find
natural paints can be used with little - or no -
discomfort, and tend therefore to be preferred to
the mass-market petrochemical soup.
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Are natural
paints more expensive?
In general, yes. Although the
price per litre may be higher – especially for gloss
paint – natural paint can often be more economical
when it goes further, and saves time and money on
maintenance. But what price do you put on your
health?
Sometimes the only way to answer these type of cost
questions is to think deeply about your own
priorities and concerns relating to the health of
your family and your home or your work environment,
not forgetting the long term prospects for the
planet and future generations. Please remember, the
mistakes we make today, will be the burden our
children inherit.
"From an ecological point of
view organically based environmentally friendly eco
paint costs less than many synthetic products,
simply because the indirect ecological costs (for
waste management and energy input, for example) are
much less."
Source: AURO natural paints
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What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)?
The term Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC) was – as far as we have been able to
ascertain – introduced by the petrochemical industry
as a way of describing the quantity of noxious fumes
given off by the evaporation of solvents in gloss
paint. Lower VOC is meant to indicate the product is
safer to use. But how accurate is that assumption?
Firstly, it's a voluntary guide,
and must therefore be seen as offering a benefit to
those companies choosing to use it. The issue is
further complicated by the use of the terms 'No VOC'
or 'Low VOC'. Neither of these are terms related to
the VOC scale, which actually ranges from Minimal to
High. Thus, the use of the VOC scale clearly
suggests the product in question MUST contain
petrochemicals - otherwise there would be no need to
use this scale. Right?
Various environmental publications have noted that,
in the main, manufacturers have simply moved
products from being solvent based to being water
based - which, although a move in the right
direction - has resulted in some cases, in the
addition or introduction of several other chemicals.
In other words, the so-called 'new', 'modern',
'healthier', 'water-based' Low VOC product could
actually be less environmentally friendly than the
unhealthy product it is meant to replace.
The real irony about VOC is that a natural solvent,
such as orange oil, may also have a VOC rating equal
or higher to that of one based on petrochemicals.
Although the manufacturers of petrochemical based
products are often quick to highlight this point,
and on occasion use it to suggest the petrochemical
solvent is as safe as natural orange oil, our
customers tell us that given the choice, natural
orange oil is preferable to a petrochemical solvent. Thus, the issue is not so much about the level of VOC a product may contain, but is more to do with what is generating it. For us, Natural Paint was, and still remains, the only sensible option for our family, home, and the planet.
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Can eco
paints be used with medium density fibre-board (MDF)?
With extra care and effort -
Possibly.
The information provided in answer to this question
is a combination of customer comments, and what they
said they did to resolve the problem. Neither us
nor the manufacturers have undertaken any testing to
confirm, or otherwise, the accuracy of this
information. None of the products mentioned here are
designed for the purpose for which they are being
used, and your use in this context is seen as
nothing more than EXPERIMENTAL and at your sole
risk.
Generally, most of the people we
talk to about MDF seem to raise the same two Issues,
both of which; it would seem to us, could have been
resolved if solid woods had been used.
-
Off-gassing - which most customer want to stop or
reduce - is not affected by the micro-porous
'breathable' natural eco paint products we supply.
-
Blowing' -
absorbing water and expanding to a porridge-like
consistency - is a real problem with MDF and any
water based coating.
The current consensus
seems to suggest:
-
Good Ventilation -
a good air-flow MUST be maintained to aid
drying
-
Fully Dry - each coating must be
allowed to FULLY DRY before applying the next
-
Primer - '121 Universal
Natural Resin Primer' - thin coats allowed to
FULLY DRY
Because an existing, almost-dry
coat, acts like a wick to draw moisture in at a
faster rate than it can be removed by evaporation to
the air, trying to push on when a coating is
almost-dry is more than likely to lead to failure once the
next coat is applied.
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What are
your manufacturers environmental principles?
From his experience of working in
the paint industry, Dr Herman Fischer became
convinced that only by using naturally occurring
materials could we avoid risks of toxic
contamination from the products of synthetic
chemistry.
These risks are not confined to
health and environmental hazards at the point of use
but include by-products, waste products and escape
of toxins during production.
Attempts to overcome these risks
by substituting new synthetic materials for known
harmful ones have largely been self defeating. As
each step is taken to replace a known harmful
ingredient, new chemicals are required to compensate
for the loss of the functions of those being
replaced. This process outpaces any possible testing
for harm from these new chemicals.
The promotion of 'water-borne'
gloss paints as a means of reducing VOC's is an
interesting example. In order to produce water-borne
gloss paints, the acrylic resins on which many are
based, not only involved an energy intensive
production process, but required a complex of
neutralising agents, auxiliary diluents and
preservatives to achieve the desired result. Some of
these chemicals are highly dangerous even though
only traces of them remain in the finished product.
Swedish nature conservation authorities have warned
that a 40-million-to-one dilution is necessary to
render 'water soluble gloss paint' harmless before
entering the sewage system – that's the equivalent
of rinsing a paint brush under a tap for a week!
Despite this, and because of the
potential environmental and practical advantages of
water soluble gloss paints, Dr Fischer and his
chemists took on the challenge of coming up with a
paint that, while being water miscible, used natural
materials and natural methods. It took three years
and several millions of Euros to achieve, but by
1999 the impossible became possible.
This uncompromising stance does
make the products more costly but, for those
prepared to stand up for their principles, this is a
worthwhile price to pay. To be sure of the
environmental credentials of a paint ask for a "full
declaration" of the composition and origins of the
ingredients - in writing.
Source: AURO natural paints
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Are the products you supply tested on animals?
When we originally asked this question; around three
years ago, we were advised that:
"We can guarantee the products are not currently
tested on animals, and for the period for which we
have records (almost 20yrs) that has always been the
case. However, in the interest of complete and
transparent openness and balance, we should point
out that although we believe animal testing did not
occur before this period, we have no records to
guarantee that was, or was not, the case".
Source: Auro natural paints
Several products in the range are marked with a
small ' v ' to indicate they are suitable for use by
Vegans.
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Can I get a
full declaration of product content?
Yes, you certainly can. To our
knowledge, our supplier is one of only three
manufacturers to be fully open about product
content – simply click on the link below to
download a copy in Adobe PDF format. Product content
is also provided in the
Information Pack, in product
Data Sheets and on the product label.
•
Content declaration (22k PDF)
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Are
the eco paints you supply safe for allergy sufferers?
As a chemically sensitive
allergy sufferer that has never experienced an
allergic reaction when using these paints, I can say
that for me, they are antiallergenic. But as all
allergy sufferers know, a substance that is
allergically benign for one person can be the source
for dramatic adverse effects for another. So please
read on for an explanation of the approach taken to
help reduce any adverse effects you may experience.
When an allergy to conventional paints exists, the
causes can be solvents (white spirit, isoaliphates)
or synthetic resins (epoxy resins, iso-cyanats,
polyurethanes). In principle, every made-to-measure
chemical in paints and varnishes is a potential
allergy inducer when, say, a solvent is exposed to
the air or when a person is in frequent contact with
it (professional decorators, for example).
Natural substances can also cause
allergic reactions, especially if there is a history
of complaints induced by chemicals. Essential oils
which are present in nature (as volatile aroma
essence) make excellent solvents in natural paints,
but are also possible irritants. Similarly, natural
resins and the oxidation products of plant based
oils can cause irritation. However, pollen residues
in beeswax are totally harmless as they are bonded
and therefore immobile.
A change to non-allergenic and
less active raw materials in cosmetics, medicines
or, for that matter, varnishes and paints, can only
be related to current levels of knowledge: the long
term risks and the extent to which allergies will be
induced is as yet unknown. In principle, every
substance – and especially every foreign substance –
can cause allergies. Inevitably, the less active
substances accumulate in the environment and from
these they, in turn, put pressure on the immune
system.
When sensitivity or allergy to a
certain product is suspected, one must first find
out exactly which substances the allergy-inducer
consists of. The first aid at the 'guessing' stage
of an allergy is the total disclosure of every raw
material contained in the relevant product. With the
help of this full declaration early suspicions can
either be confirmed or dismissed.
If sensitivity to one of the
substances used in the products we supply is proven,
we can arrange an individual remedy. With the help
of a cross reference list, we will name all the
products which do not contain your allergy inducer.
As a general rule, there are often several products
available for one application, and we will find the
most desirable solution for you.
We'll use our ingenuity: in
seemingly hopeless situations there is the
possibility to develop a special product which
specifically avoids using your allergy inducer. We
believe that only through individual consultation
and responsible behaviour can the most favourable
ecological and toxicological conditions be achieved.
Source: AURO natural paints
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Are
natural eco paints safe for use during pregnancy?
We are unaware of any reason why
the products we supply should not be used for
decorating your home during pregnancy, and we
certainly believe they are preferable to the
petrochemical-based alternative. Good luck to all
who are expecting to hear the patter of tiny feet.
You may be interested to know
that several of the products we supply have been
specifically tested and approved for use on
children's wooden toys, cots, and in play
environments.
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Which
payment cards do you accept?
We accept Visa, Maestro and
MasterCard.
For security reasons, we only accept cards from
issuers that have FULLY implemented the latest AVS/CV2
security protocols, and provide full and complete
responses to security related enquiries.
We are aware customers with cards issued by:
HSBC, Allied Irish Bank and
First Direct have experienced the greatest
number of AVS/CV2 failures. We therefore advise you
use an alternative card if you have one.
If your payment is refused, but
you feel certain the details are entered correctly,
please double check the postcode and make sure
letters have not been entered for numbers or numbers
for letters - this is a very common error e.g. PO10
01P is different to P010 O1P and POI0 0lP
Also see 'Why must the Customer
and Cardholder addresses be the same?'
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Why
must the Customer and Cardholder addresses be the
same?
It's for cardholder security.
Card payments are processed via
the Royal Bank of Scotland's Streamline service –
Europe's leading merchant account service. One of
the benefits this system offers is that it tells us
if the Customer details e.g. the information you
entered when creating your shopping account, are the
same as those of the cardholder. If they are not,
the goods cannot be shipped.
For example, if you entered 'Saint Marys Road' as
your Customer address, but your card issuer has your
address recorded as 'Saint Mary's Road' (note the
apostrophe) they; not us, would decline a
transaction on the basis that an incorrect address
was supplied.
Our advice is to have your credit
card statement handy when first registering your
details with us.
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Can
you ship to an alternative address?
Yes we can - but only for established customers,
and at your risk. Your options are:
-
Leave the shipping address as your home
address, but in the 'Delivery Instructions'
box, type something like, 'If out, please
leave with neighbour at No 23'. Your goods
will be delivered to the cardholder's
address; or delivered to the designated
neighbour in accordance with your
instructions; or returned to the courier's
depot if a signature is unobtainable.
-
To deliver to an alternative address that is
not an immediate neighbour e.g. for delivery
to your work address, during checkout, click
the 'Change' button; next to the Delivery
Address, and provide the requested details.
Your goods will be delivered to your work
address or returned to the courier's depot
if a signature is unobtainable.
Important notes:
- For all card payments, your bank
will tell us if the Cardholder
address matches the Billing address
you entered in your shopping account. If
the details are not an exact match, or
if your card issuer fails to provide a
full and complete response to our
request for payment, your order cannot
be shipped. see Which
payment cards do you accept?
- Whenever an alternative delivery
address is requested, you will need to
provide land line telephone numbers for
your home and the delivery address, and
if you have one, your mobile phone
number. These numbers may be used as
part of our security checks, and as
appropriate, may be passed to couriers
in case they need directions.
- Without exception, where a mobile
number is the only telephone number
provided, and/or unless you have
maintained your account with us
appropriately, delivery to an address
other than that of the cardholder will
be automatically rejected and may be
subject to an additional redelivery fee.
Please note: We only ship to UK addresses
(Excl: IOM, NI, CI)
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Can
goods be delivered to a University if we pay by
credit card?
For goods purchased in the name
of the institution, the obvious answer is No -
Universities, schools, museums, office blocks and
similar public locations do not normally purchase
goods using credit cards - nor do they normally
conduct business using mobile phone numbers.
However, If you work in a
university e.g. you are a traceable member of staff,
registered to a particular department, building and
land-line telephone number, and would like your
goods to be delivered to 'your work location',
please see: "Can you ship to
an alternative address?", for further details.
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Colour Charts, Tester pots and Colour Accuracy
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