Author – Arushi Prakash
Image Source: earthride.com.au
The paints industry has developed myriad chemicals to enhance the product shelf life, color, texture and other properties. These paints are made from a few chemicals that are especially suited for this industry. Many of these are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which vaporize as soon as they are exposed to the atmosphere. They also contain heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and chromium. VOCs such as ethyl acetate, glycol ethers, and acetone are organic chemicals that are mainly used as solvents for conventional paints. Once they enter into the air we inhale, they can go into our lungs and create a toxic effect on our bodies. The odor emanating from these paints can be quite suffocating.
These chemicals can cause a variety of harmful effects on people who are exposed to it, depending on exposure. These effects can be mild, like minor irritation in the eyes, throat, nose or skin, or could cause a major burning sensation. Headaches, nausea and dizziness can also result from exposure to the chemicals in conventional paints. Some long-term effects include liver and kidney damage, respiratory issues and even cancer. These paints not only harm the human body, but also the environment. The by-products and waste of the synthetic chemical industry is detrimental to the environment and it leaves an immense carbon footprint.
Eco-friendly Alternatives

The potent health effects of these paints have made paint companies reconsider the composition of their products. This has led to the development of a new range of Environmentally Friendly non-toxic paints. They aim to reinvent paints so that serious health and environment problems can be prevented.
Eco-friendly paints available in India can be classified into three types:
- Zero-VOC paints: The level of VOCs in these paints is so low that they can be termed as ‘zero-VOC paints’. As per the EPA* standard, the total VOC content should be less than 5 gram per liter of paint.
- Low-VOC paints: As specified by the EPA, these paints can have VOC concentrations ranging from 5 to 200 gram per liter of paint.
- Natural paints: These paints are made of natural compounds such as tree resins, water, plant oil, essential oil and natural dyes. They do not contain any VOCs. Water-based paints do not have an odor, while oil-based paints have a smell.
*Since India does not have guidelines on such non-toxic paints, we have considered the standards formulated by the Green Seal Standard for Paints & Coatings and the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
It is important to note that most green certifications stand for VOC in the paint base. VOC in colouring agents in the paint, the biggest contributor of VOC, is often ignored. As a thumb rule, darker colours and glossier paints have more VOC. BIS has recently reduced the standard for lead in normal paints from 1,000 ppm to 90 ppm, following the example of the US and China. Paints in India can undergo testing for certification from the National Testing House too, like Nerolac Paints.
Tech Specs of Environmentally Friendly Paints
Technical comparison between conventional and low VOC paints:
Parameters | Conventional Paints | Low/Zero VOC Paints |
---|---|---|
VOC content (gram per liter) | 250-800 | 50 for Low VOC / 5 for Zero VOC |
Color ranges | All colors | Lighter colors |
Texture | Flat or Glossy | Flat only |
Base | Oil or Latex | Latex (Oil in rare cases) |
Odor | Suffocating | Less or None |
Cost per gallon | INR720-3,000 | INR1,800-4,200 |
Performance over 20 years | 4-5 coats needed | 1 coat is enough |
Source: EPA |
The following suppliers sell eco-friendly and non-toxic paints in India:
Asian Paints
Asian Paints is India’s largest paint company that provides paint products for personal, industrial and automotive needs. Asian Paints began its journey into non-toxic paints by removing lead and heavy metals from its paints. The company has also substantially reduced the VOC content in its paints to comply with international standards, as specified by the Green Seal Standard for Paints & Coatings. For example, its Ace Exterior Emulsion (White) has 22.22 grams of VOC per liter of paint, which is substantially less than the international standard of 50 grams of VOC.
Berger Paints
Berger Paints is another leading paint company that has a broad customer base in India. Through their Green Horizon endeavor, the company seeks to protect the environment by producing better products. Berger Paints has removed lead, mercury and chromium from its paints, which are toxic to the human body. The company has also greatly reduced VOCs (8.4 gram per liter in its Breathe Easy Emulsions) and decreased the content of aromatics so that their products have zero negative health impact. Berger Paints has also diversified into water-based paints, custom-made for the pharmaceutical industry. Their Breathe Easy Emulsions are also water-based.
Dulux India
Dulux is a UK-based multinational company that has several production units in India. The company complies with the highest environmental standards on paints, especially in the area of VOC content. Dulux promotes water-based substitutes actively through its website and other promotional activities. The company offers a wide variety of water-based products such as Paint Mixing Kitchen, Endurance Silk, Magic White Silk, Quick Dry Gloss, Watershield Exterior Satin, and many more.
Kansai Nerolac
Nerolac is now the second largest player in the paints market in India. The company had switched to lead-free paints years ago due to the several health hazards associated with lead. All its manufacturing plants are ISO-14001 certified, which helps the company to achieve sound environmental performance. Recently, Kansai Nerolac launched a line of water-based, low-VOC paints that has the National Test House (NTH) certification.
It is clear that eco-friendly and non-toxic varieties of paints come at a higher cost than regular paints, but that they do last long. They also benefit you and your family’s health, as well as the environment.
The shift to low/zero-VOC paints is seen not only because of an environmentally conscious industry but with an industry that understands that consumers are increasingly buying green-labelled products. Thus, it is necessary that consumers understand what a green label means. Green Seal Certifications (International), EcoMark Scheme (in India) are standards prevalent in the market for green paints. The EcoMark, conferred by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has the following standards for water-based coatings:
- 5% or less VOC
- Absence of metals like Mercury and its compounds, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium VI and their oxides
- Less than 10 milligrams per kilogram free formaldehyde
- Absence of chemicals like halogenated solvents, benzene, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons and other aromatic hydrocarbons
Factfile-
http://www.thealternative.in
http://www.poplarnetwork.com
http://www.epa.gov
http://www.greenseal.org
http://www.cpcb.nic.in
http://toxicslink.org
http://southasia.oneworld.net
http://paintgurus.typepad.com
http://www.greenseal.org
This post was originally published by our content partner Green Clean Guide and is republished here with permission
Dear Sir
I am interested in marketing Innovative products. Please help me connect to these Innovators.
Looking forward to hear positively from you.
Regards
Thiru
9847861177
SUGGEST ME GOOD INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINT FOR BANGLORE
Hi,
we have already listed all the brands that sell non-toxic paints in India. Among them we suggest you go for Nerolac Paints since it is certified as completely eco-friendly
Dear Thiru,
Thank you very much for your interest in promoting our innovative products. But this article showcases products from well established companies! so can you please specify which product are interested in?
Hi Sir,
Any new Innovative Product. Bio Remedition Products as well as Start ups having innovative products and are looking for marketers.
Regards
Thiru
9847861177
I am from kerala. Here my brother is going to starting marketing of a new paint, which is completely zero voc paint. We need all my friends support to this project.
Hi Abdulla,
it’s great to see your enthusiasm to sell non-VOC paints, but please remember all the big brands are selling them in India already!
Hi I want to buy the zero voc paint. Please contact me
Hi Nithin, Please go to your nearest hardware shop and ask for zero VOC paints. All brands are now having them across india
Hi sir. please suggest paint which is safe for birds. Even though birds swallow it should not effect. Krylon fusion is recommended but do not know whether it’s available in India or not. Kindly reply
HI Suganya,
I have not heard of any bird swallowing paint! birds do not swallow anything that is not edible. are you talking about poultry or pet birds kept at home?
are they vegan frindly?
What do you mean by vegan friendly? do you plan to eat the paint? in that sense, no they are not
Is there a market for 100% natural paints in India for a new entrant?
Hi Umesh,
There is surely a market for fully natural paint, but cost of production and marketing will be a hurdle!
hello levine, please mail the eco friendly painting lists to my email.
we shall discuss about the products through email.
[email protected]
thank you
Kansai nerolac paint is the best paint…