Why Use Natural Plant Based Paints ?

Low Allergy
The natural base of BIO Products allows your family to enjoy a better and healthier lifestyle.

Non Poisonous
Makes your home and your environment a safer place

Breathing Walls
BIO Products do not seal your walls allowing them to breathe

Solvents
The BIO Product range is totally free of dangerous solvents like toluene, xylene, glycol and ether derivatives etc.

Pigments
Typically BIO Pigments such as earth or metal pigments are naturally occurring substances

Preservatives
Natural ingredients act perfectly as a preservative

Durability and hiding power
BIO Wall Paint can be scrubbed clean and has a hiding power of 98.3% which is better than most paints on the market. It has been tested by the Defence Department Materials Testing Laboratory in September 1993 and meets the Australian Standard AS 1580. (Method of Paint Testing)

Health and Environment
By using BIO Products you are promoting the maintenance of a healthy balance between mankind and nature

Inexpensive
BIO Wall and Ceiling Paints don't cost much more than synthetic paints. What price your health?

Applications
Nurseries
Children's bedrooms
Child Care Centres
Hospitals
Retirement Villages
Restaurants
Your Home
Your Office

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The Truth About Natural, Plant Based Paints

• Natural, Plant Based Paints are as long lasting if not longer lasting than synthetic paints.
• They are durable and Washable, can be scrubbed clean.
• They meet the Australian Standard AS1580
• They cost around the same as synthetic paints.
• They do not contain harmful solvents which most synthetic paints do.
• They do not contain Volatile Organic Compounds.
• They do not have offensive smells, in fact they smell like lemons.
• They are as easy to use as synthetic paints.
• They are perfect for pregnant women, young children, bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, offices, children's furniture and toys etc.
• Natural Paints come in lovely vibrant natural colours, for walls, ceilings, doors, skirting boards, window frames.
• Natural Varnishes and Wood Oils that are ideal for floors, furniture, skirting boards, doors, window frames exterior decking and cladding etc.
• Why wouldn't you use Natural Paints, now you know the truth?

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New Research Bulletin - Plant Based Paints & Varnishes

INTRODUCTION
The benefits of using Plant Chemistry Paints over Synthetic Petrochemical based paints fall in to three major categories. These are (1) the technical benefits (2) the health benefits and (3) the environmental benefits.

1. TECHNICAL BENEFITS

If applied to bare surfaces the following superior benefits apply.

a) The paint or varnish will not lift or peel if applied correctly. This is because the molecular structure of plant oils is fine enough to penetrate into a surface and tree resins remain elastic as they do in nature.

Unlike floors finished with polyurethane and other
synthetic finishes, oiled floors can be spot repaired. This means that if a small section of the floor is damaged or marked, simply resanding that area and applying more oil will repair it.

b) The paint or varnish, while being water resistant, will allow air to exchange through the surface. This is akin to a built in ventilation system, ensuring there is always fresh air in the building. It also allows the building to regulate its moisture content making it difficult for mould to form. We call this a "breathing" surface.

2. HEALTH BENEFITS

No Outgassing
This phenomenon is where a surface emits molecules of dangerous chemicals into the air. It is most obvious when we open the lid of a tin of paint or polyurethane. The pungent odour is outgassing in action. Because all plastics, glues and petrochemical based products outgas, and because the walls of our homes are sealed with synthetic paints, these dangerous substances are trapped within. This results in studies which show that indoor pollution is up to ten times greater than outdoor pollution.

Plant Chemistry products do not outgass and because of their breathability our homes are much healthier environments in which to live.

Low toxicity ingredients
Plant Chemistry paints from a selection of approximately 150 raw materials of plant and mineral origin. In fact most of these ingredients are considered to be food grade. Some of these are: Linseed oil (the oldest known food oil), soya been lecithin, casein (made from cows milk), beeswax, talc (purified of asbestos and quartz), orange peel oil, shellac, carnauba wax, chalk, lemon oil, bergamot oil, iron oxides etc.
In direct contrast the Painters Hazards Handbook put out by the Operative Painters and Decorators Union lists five main health hazards associated with the ingredients in synthetic paints. These are Occupational Cancer, "Painters Syndrome" (ie. brain and central nervous system damage), skin diseases, lung diseases and reproductive hazards.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

The raw ingredients being of primarily agricultural origin are renewable and do not add to the Greenhouse Effect. They are safer to transport and are readily biodegradable.

We know the damage done to to our natural environment when an oil tanker spills its cargo at sea. In contrast, if a container load of linseed oil was spilt at sea it would be readily attacked by micro-organisms (biodegrade).
The manufacturing process produces no hazardous waste products. In fact, the by-products of manufacture are composted. The clean up from a painting job can be tipped safely into the garden.
The same cannot be said of synthetic paints. They are toxic and need to be safely disposed of.

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Most frequently asked questions

Q: I understand that some paints can cause health problems. Why?

A: There are many different types of paints, which are loosely grouped under the following headings: oil-based; water-based; and epoxy. Synthetic paints usually contain volatile solvents such as xylene, toluene, ketones etc. (See Solvents). Some paints also contain mould inhibitors.
Paints may appear to dry within a few hours but in reality they can outgas chemicals for days, months, or even longer. Exposure may cause headaches and nausea and some solvents can affect the respiratory tract and the central nervous system. Use natural plant-based products or reduced solvent products.

Q: Are water-based paints safer than oil-based paints?

A: Water-based paints (also called plastic, emulsion or latex paints) are popular because they tend to dry more quickly than oil-based paints and contain fewer petroleum derivatives. Emulsion based paints contain a smaller percentage of solvents than oil-based paints and are certainly preferable. Despite the fact that water-based paints dry faster, they still outgas chemicals for sometime after application. For chemically sensitive people, however, even these paints contain too many chemicals and should be avoided.

Q: Can polyurethane affect my health?

A: Polyurethane contains toluene di-isocyanate which is toxic. In addition, polyurethane products also contain additives, such as insecticides and fungicides. Although some people suffer no apparent health effects from exposure to small amounts of polyurethane, its use on large surfaces such as floors, should be avoided, due to problems with long-term outgassing. Use plant-based products.

Q: Are paint strippers dangerous to use?

A: Paint strippers may be easy and convenient to use but can cause major health problems. Methylene chloride, used in some strippers, is a probable human carcinogen, and is also cardiotoxic. Caustic soda, used in other paint strippers, can cause severe burns.
Avoid using paint strippers.

Information in this section has been provided by The Total Environment Centre.

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