Painting Walls the Ecological Way

Even changing the colour of your walls can provide an opportunity to go 'green'. Choosing ecological and natural paints over standard versions will be good for you, the walls and the environment.

There are various different methods by which to create compounds similar to paint: just mix water with some good slaked lime.

A few points to consider

Solvents evaporate from classic paints and finishes.
These solvents are both toxic for people and harmful to the environment.

The cold, pollution and noise have resulted in homes becoming increasingly airtight, reducing the natural exchange of air and the respective elimination of any suspended toxic substances.

One possible solution comes in the form of ecological paints and finishes, namely those made from natural renewable raw materials.
You can recognise them because they boast the ECOLABEL logo of ecological quality, as confirmed by the European Union.
This certifies that the product content has a very low percentage of harmful substances and solvents.
They therefore mainly consist of compounds obtained from vegetable resins and oils, gums and glues or processed natural mineral substances.

The main benefits

- Health: these finishes are made from natural materials, thereby preventing allergies and the harmful effects typical of petroleum derivates;

- Excellent for surfaces: they are highly compatible with the surfaces to be treated; the fatty oils present allow for excellent absorption by the wall, making it water-repellent without preventing it from breathing. Pigments made from natural earth instead offer very stable and vivid colours, which are pleasant to the touch;

- 100% eco-sustainable: manufactured with vegetable raw materials and natural earths, the ecological paints are biodegradable, and produced by low energy consumption processes.

The D.I.Y. alternative

There are various different methods by which to create compounds similar to paint: just mix water with some good slaked lime.
If you are also looking to change the colour of the wall, instead opt for truly natural pigments and materials.
By adding a sample of earth to the dissolved lime a wide variety of colours can be obtained, ranging from yellow to pink, to shades of brown.
As a quicker alternative, a water-based paint concentrate, made from pure natural pigments, can be added to the lime and water.