We are pleased to say things have moved on and it’s now cool to be green. Environmentally friendly living has become a buzzword in recent years. With the war on plastics, saving water and using fewer chemicals at the front of our minds.

So how do you turn eco friendly intentions into practical action at home? We’ve put together our 6 simple tips to help create a greener, more sustainable, eco-friendly home:

Make your own household cleaners

At Earthborn we get asked lots of questions about the chemicals contained within our paints. But did you know that most of the cleaning products used around the home will contain lots more chemicals, toxins and nasties than Earthborn paints?

Making your own cleaning products might sound complicated but we promise it’s super easy and can even be a fun activity to do with kids! Homemade cleaning products are often cheaper, longer lasting and most importantly, toxin free. Help protect the environment by using naturally derived ingredients. If you have children, pets or anyone with allergies living in your house this is even more worthwhile.

Check out this easy-peasy recipe from one of our favourite eco-bloggers Little Birdie. Using just two ingredients, it’s perfect for cleaning worktops, bathrooms and lots more besides.

Invest in a reusable water bottle

According to Surfers against Sewage,12 million tonnes of plastic is poured into our oceans every year. The biggest problem is single use plastics and the quantities in which they are used. A plastic bottle for instance is used on average for 15 minutes yet could take 100 – 300 years to fragment. In the UK we recycle less than a third of our plastic, so it’s no surprise that many of these end up on our beaches and in our oceans. Do your bit and cut out the single use plastics where you can – investing in a reusable water bottle is such a simple way to help.

Start composting

Composting is one of the best ways to give back to the earth! Soil loves compost so starting a compost heap is a great way to make a small change that can make a big difference in the future. With a little planning and patience, a compost heap will reward use in spades (pun intended!) turning food and garden waste into a nutrient fuelled wonder product for your plants. If you’re new to composting, check out this guide from The Eden Project.

Use energy-saving lightbulbs

Not only are energy efficient bulbs far better for the environment, they could save you money in the long run too. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that by replacing all bulbs in your home with LED alternatives, you could save around £40 a year on your electricity bills. Head to the Energy Saving Trust for other top tips on making your home more energy efficient.

Collect rainwater

Whether it’s a simple water butt in your garden or an advanced rainwater harvesting system, saving rainwater can help reduce your mains water consumption, benefiting both the environment and your wallet. By harvesting rainwater you can use it to water the garden and plants around your home or even for washing clothes and flushing the loo. The Renewable Energy Hub is a great resource for anyone looking to save energy around the home, including lots of information about saving rainwater.

Opt for eco friendly products around your home

Making healthier, more environmentally aware choices in the products we buy used to mean compromising on quality or choice. But that’s changing! From furniture to bedding, candles to paint (ahem!),  there are loads of companies out there who produce goods in an environmentally conscious way.

But it can be really tricky to know what’s genuine… and what’s simply greenwashing! While we’d all like to make more environmentally friendly choices, it can take a lot of time and research to find brands and businesses that share the same green ethos.

To be sure you’re buying genuine eco products there are certain accreditations you can look out for, in order to make an informed decision. For example, at Earthborn our paints carry the Ecolabel. The Ecolabel provides an independent, third party assurance that the product meets the highest possible environmental performance and is the only environmental product certification scheme that is accepted EU wide.

There are also organisations such as Blue Patch, a directory for UK & Irish businesses from a whole variety of sectors – from fashion and home to food and leisure. The difference is that each business has proven green credentials. It enables you, the customer, to browse different sectors on its website to find genuinely eco friendly businesses.

Hopefully, these tips have inspired you to make some eco friendly choices at home (and may help you save some money along the way!). We can all do our bit to help the environment and preserve the planet for future generations. Find out more about our eco friendly, non toxic paint here.

The post Our tips for creating a more eco friendly home appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

As a company that provides eco-friendly paints it is obviously something we feel passionate about.  We are also incredibly proud to have been making eco-friendly paints for 20 years. Since our launch in the early 2000s, our main focus has been to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paint. Not only are the ingredients we use carefully selected to make sure they are free from VOC’s and harmful toxins, but our paints are also vegan friendly, highly breathable and child-safe.

We were the first paint company in the UK to hold the EU Ecolabel, which is an independent accreditation awarded for environmental excellence. You can read a bit more about our eco credentials here:

Our top 5 eco credentials

Giving YOU a choice to pick eco!

Since Earthborn started it has always been important to offer you a choice. We provide an environmentally friendly paint option that doesn’t compromise on the performance of the paint or colour palette we have to offer.

All the ingredients we use in our paints are the most environmentally friendly options. We also list all the ingredients on the side of our tins. In our Claypaint range, some of the colours are actually the naturally occurring clay colours so are free from colourant. We even have colours that do not contain Titanium Dioxide! These colours are all highlighted on our Classic range colour card. The colour card is fully recyclable; the colour chips that you see on the card are painted with REAL paint and the glue is biodegradable glue.

We also think about all the materials we use. The tins are produced from 70% recycled steel and are recyclable too. And the foam chips that your paints are packaged in? Well they’re eco friendly, biodegradable and safely dissolve in water. All our printed material uses vegetable based inks and FSC paper.

Today, we remain fully committed to being environmentally conscious and aware… helping others make their homes a more healthier and safe environment. There is always more we can do as a company. We are still finding more ways to be even more sustainable to help reduce the impact we have on our planet.

If you want to find out more about how you can do your bit the World Environment Day website has lots of resources and guides to help.

The post World Environment Day appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

Even if your property isn’t listed, it’s important to consider the long term impact of any alterations you make. From larger scale work like extensions, renovations and conversions, to seemingly smaller choices such as interior details and finishes, every aspect can impact on your building.

Of all the enquiries we receive at Earthborn, advice on painting older properties, and in particular questions about breathability, are the most common. We think this is great news because it means more people are considering the implications of the work they carry out to older, period properties, where even a simple paint choice can make a difference to the fabric of the building.

Why should I treat my older property differently?

Most historic buildings were constructed from solid walls using porous materials like stone, brick or timber, along with plasters made from lime. Traditionally, breathable materials were used to allow the air to flow through and prevent condensation. It is the porous nature of these materials that is key to the construction.

However, many modern building materials work on the basis of blocking the elements rather than allowing air to pass through. Non-porous materials prevent this flow of air and ‘seal’ the walls. In modern houses, this can be a good thing, but if these non-breathable materials are used on older properties without professional expertise, it can lead to future problems. The moisture in the air becomes trapped and is then forced out through the porous parts of the building, causing damp.

Likewise, if an older property is painted either inside or out with plastic-based paint, rather than an appropriate breathable paint, it will prevent moisture from flowing through the walls and can exacerbate damp problems. So if you have invested time and money in choosing the right building materials for your period home, it makes sense to carefully consider the type of paint used too.

What type of paint is best for a period property?

Before deciding which colour to go for, make sure you consider the breathability of the paint first and whether it is suitable for your project.

At Earthborn we have been fortunate to work with a number of heritage building specialists including architects, specifiers and building contractors on a variety of projects, each with their own unique requirements. What they all have in common, however, is the need for an appropriate breathable paint to work in harmony with the other materials and techniques used.

Our breathable Claypaint is ideal for interior surfaces and our Silicate Masonry Paint is perfect for exterior mineral-based walls. Both products have extremely high levels of breathability and are compatible with lime based plasters. In fact, both types of paint offer a viable, long-term alternative to lime wash because they are so breathable.

Above all, older buildings are unique so it’s important to seek advice from professionals who have experience of working on historic projects. Many of our stockists are specialists who can advise on the best products for your heritage project.

The post How to choose paint for an older property appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

Here at Earthborn we have created a how to guide for some super easy crafts featuring our very own Eco Chic . To be bang on trend with your Christmas 2021 DIY décor we suggest burnished berry and neutral shades.

Christmas Twig Tree

Tree using Claypaint in colour Wood smoke to add accents to twigs.

This one is super simple, and it can be used anywhere to bring a bit of festivity to your home. All you need is to collect some sticks on your next walk, try to go for those that are naturally quite straight. Then gather some string or twine and arrange the sticks from smallest to largest so that it creates a shape of a tree, (you may need to trim some of the sticks to make the smaller point). Once you have arranged them you can begin painting the sticks or you may simply wish to keep it natural. After leaving them to dry and you can begin tying twine to each one individually leaving a 1-2 cm gap.

Christmas Pine Cones

Ombre pine cones using Claypaint colours Lady bug, Rosie Posie, Sunday Stroll and Wood smoke

A fun way to get little ones involved in Christmas crafts is to send them on a hunt for pine cones on your next walk. Once you have your pine cones bring them indoors and leave them near a window so that the sunlight will help them to dry and open right up ready for decorating. You can play around with different painting techniques such as dipping them in paint, brushing the edges for a frosted look and even adding a bit of sparkle with our ‘mica gold pigment’.  Leave your pine cones to dry. Then tie some string to the tip to use them as natural baubles on your tree. You could also put them in a bowl to create a festive themed centrepiece for your coffee table or even paint a bottle cap and place them on top to create cute mini trees perfect for name holders.

Festive Wreath

Festive cardboard wreath using Claypaint colour Lady bug and Little Rascal for ribbon

You know those cardboard tubes you get in kitchen roll and toilet roll? Well don’t put them in the recycling bin just yet, they’re perfect for creating eye catching festive wreaths. The fun thing with this is that they can be as simple or elaborate as you like with a whole range of patterns you can play with.

Paint your tubes in your chosen colour or colours and allow to dry. Gently press the tube down so that it is completely flat. Once flattened you then need to cut the tube into strips depending on your chosen thickness, we recommend at least 2cm thick. Arrange the sections of tube into a pattern that comes together to form a circular shape, experiment with different layouts and once happy use some glue to adhere into place. If you wanted, you could repeat the process again with smaller tubes to add an additional layer. Once completed allow to dry and use some string to hang into place.

DIY Wrapping Paper

Recycled brown paper using Claypaint in Wood smoke

Most wrapping paper isn’t recyclable because of the inks or foils that are used to make them. By making your own wrapping paper you’re doing your bit in helping the planet. Taking the time to make your own wrapping paper not only adds to the overall gifting experience but you get to have fun too.

You can pick up a brown roll of parcel paper almost anywhere fairly cheaply. Plus it’s perfect for creating that homemade rustic feel. After rolling out the paper you will need to decide on a design, we recommend sticking with simple shapes so it’s easier to repeat. Using our Claypaint you can paint directly onto the paper with a fine brush, repeating the drawing until you’re happy. Alternatively, you could apply a thin layer of our paint onto a stamp and press it onto the paper which will give you a clean uniform design.

Once your loved ones have finished opening your presents, your wrapping paper can go straight into recycling as our paint is fully bio degradable!

We hope you have enjoyed reading through our festive craft suggestions. Make sure to tag us on Instagram in your creations with #VeryEarthbornChristmas and keep updated with everything Earthborn, by subscribing to our newsletter.

The post A DIY Guide to a Very Earthborn Christmas appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

If this sounds familiar, you may be wondering how best to paint your walls, and which paint or products to use. So in this post, we look at how best to tackle painting old, damaged and uneven walls…

Painting over old, uneven walls

Painting over existing layers of paint is usually the easiest option. A paint that has high coverage and a thick texture, such as our Claypaint or Lifestyle emulsions, will even out any hairline cracks and slightly bumpy surfaces. Both products can go over a multitude of wall substrates. However, on lime plaster we’d only recommend using Claypaint due to its high level of breathability.

If you can’t face removing existing coatings, patch repair any cracks before sanding the walls to provide a smooth surface on which to paint. On previously painted walls and standard gypsum plaster, you can use regular filler. But on lime plaster, Earthborn’s Casein Filler will ensure the area remains breathable. Use an electric sander or fine grit sanding block to achieve a flat finish, paying particular attention to the edges of walls, around sockets and switches.

There’s no need to use a separate primer with Earthborn’s interior paints, but for walls that are powdery to touch, our Wall Glaze will help to stabilise the surface prior to painting. It’s breathable too so can even be used on lime. And before painting over any dry stains (like marker pen, watermarks or nicotine) use our Isolating Primer to prevent stains from bleeding through.

Depending on how irregular the surface of your walls however, adding further coats of paint won’t always fix the issue. You’ll end up with a consistent colour, but the texture will remain uneven. Therefore painting over an old, damaged wall may not always be the best course of action for your property. This is especially the case if your walls are cracked, very dusty or have signs of damp.

Tackling damp walls

If there are any issues with damp in the walls (this blogpost on tell-tale signs of damp may help) then it’s worth considering removing any paper and as much old paint as possible. It’s not always an easy process but can be done by sanding, using a heat gun, or paint stripper.

You may need to remove the plaster too. Especially if it is crumbling or cracking, and take the wall back to brick. This can be a big job, but is often worth it in the long run. If your house is old and has been repaired over the years with non-breathable materials (like standard gypsum plaster and non-permeable paints) damp may be trapped in the walls, and removing non-breathable materials is the only way to resolve this. In this case, re-plastering the walls with a breathable, lime based plaster will enable the damp to dry out. This is done by allowing moisture to pass through the wall easily.

This can even be done to sections of wall which are most affected by damp (often the lower half), and leave the other areas that are sound and stable. If this is the case, there aren’t many coatings that will be suitable for both lime plaster and previously painted areas. Breathable lime wash for example, won’t always adhere to existing paint, and conventional paints aren’t suitable for going over lime. Claypaint however, can be used on both substrates whether breathable or non-breathable. So it’s the perfect solution for older properties with a mixture of substrates.

Painting over plaster

Standard gypsum plaster can be overpainted with Claypaint virtually straight away. If painting with Lifestyle it needs a day or two to dry out.

For new lime plaster however, the plaster needs time to fully cure before painting. We recommend around 4 weeks per 5mm thickness, although your lime supplier will be able to further advise. Painting before the lime has fully cured can cause the paint to dry unevenly and appear ‘bleached’. It can also inhibit the drying process of the lime plaster too.

And when it comes to painting any absorbent surface – whether new or old lime or standard plaster – it’s important to dampen the wall immediately prior to painting, and dilute the first coat of paint. The will prevent the paint from drying too quickly and provide a more consistent finish.

If you have further questions about painting old, damaged or uneven walls, our FAQs are full of helpful tips. Or you can contact us with your specific query here.

The post How to paint old, damaged or uneven walls appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

It’s important to choose the right paint for damp basements and cellars – Image credit from Google Images

When it comes to choosing paint for damp basements and cellars, we find lots of older properties with damp basements are treated with plastic based, non-breathable plaster and paints, in an effort to waterproof the room. In the short term this might solve the damp issue by keeping water out, (by, for example, using a damp proof paint). But longer term, moisture becomes trapped under the surface and builds up, so the damp basement walls become more and more saturated.

One of the first signs of a damp basement wall is flaking and bubbling paint, where moisture has pushed through, causing it to peel. As the paint comes off the walls, salts, mould and mildew may start to appear (yuk!). Eventually a wet cellar wall can cause the plaster to blow, and can even impact on the fabric of the building itself.

Mould and mildew in damp basements and cellars can be an issue in older properties – Image credit Google Images

A better way to treat damp in a cellar wall (especially in older properties) is to use breathable building materials such as lime plaster and breathable paints. This will allow any moisture trapped within the walls to naturally pass through the surface of the wall and help to regulate the humidity in the space.

The paint we’d recommend as suitable for painting basement and cellar walls with ongoing damp problems is Earthborn Claypaint, a highly breathable interior emulsion with a high clay content. It is suitable for painting over new and old lime plaster, as well as painting walls that have been stripped of previous paint, and is an ideal for painting basements.

Whilst Claypaint can help to prevent mould growth, is not a cure. Being highly breathable, Claypaint works by allowing the moisture to pass through, then releases it as the room ventilates or the walls dries.

Any existing mould or mildew needs treating before repainting. It’s also important to treat the damp problem as a whole, by using a breathable paint in conjunction with other breathable building materials, which will allow moisture and water vapour to flow through the walls and help prevent a build-up of trapped moisture. This is especially important in older properties that may have had a variety of damp proofing works carried out in the past, some of which may not always be suitable for the age of property and original building method. We’d advise contacting a specialist who understands how to treat damp basements and cellars and has experience working with older period properties.

If you have a project that you need help with, contact us and we’d be happy to advise on whether Earthborn’s breathable paints are suitable for the job. Alternatively many of our stockists have lots of technical expertise – head here to find your nearest.

The post Paint for damp basements and cellars appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

New lime plaster is highly caustic and usually requires specialist application, but when successfully applied it provides a highly breathable, flexible but very durable substrate. Its high level of breathability makes it ideal for renovation or restoration projects of older buildings where it would have been used traditionally.

Unlike modern gypsum plaster, lime plaster not only has to dry but also cure, so any ‘coverings’ for lime plastered surfaces should be carefully considered. If you are applying new lime your supplier or specialist plasterer should be able to advise on curing times, but as a general ‘rule of thumb’ we suggest that for every 5mm thickness of lime it needs a minimum of 4 weeks to cure (sometimes longer). This means that no further coatings, whether that’s lime wash, paint, or any other product, should be applied until it has had sufficient curing time.

Which finish is best for lime?

There are various finishes for lime substrates, each with different characteristics; limewash being the most traditional choice. Limewash is used not just to add colour to lime plastered walls but also to protect the substrate underneath. Its microporous, alkaline properties deter algae growth, making it an excellent choice for heritage projects. Many traditional builders and conservation specialists recommend limewash because it is the most authentic finish for lime plaster.

The main drawback of limewash however, is the level of maintenance involved. It is applied by building up multiple layers, usually with a brush, which can be a time consuming task. It may also require re-application every couple of years or so, therefore not always the most practical option in the long-term.

If you are looking for an alternative to using limewash on interior walls, ensure you opt for a breathable paint for lime plaster. Claypaint has a very high level of breathability that is it fully compatible with lime. It is available in a far greater range of colours than most lime washes, whilst the ultra flat matt finish is in keeping with the authentic look of lime surfaces. Plus the thick, creamy consistency of Claypaint has the added advantage of ‘smoothing’ out any hairline cracks or irregularities in the surface.

Image: Rocky Horse

How to paint interior lime plastered walls with Claypaint:

• 1. Dampen the plaster immediately prior to painting using a damp cloth, wet brush or roller, or a water spray bottle.
• 2. Apply a mist coat of paint by diluting the Claypaint with 20% water. Mix thoroughly before applying.
• 3. When dry apply 1-2 full coats of Claypaint using a short pile roller for a smooth, consistent finish.

What about exterior lime walls?

Lime wash remains the traditional choice for finishing exterior lime plastered or lime rendered surfaces. However the level of maintenance outside can be even greater as walls are less protected from the elements. The upkeep of lime wash, which sometimes flakes over time, can be a real problem if your property is regularly exposed to windy or wet conditions.

A lime rendered property by Mike Wye finished with Earthborn Ecopro Silicate Masonry System

Our Ecopro Silicate Masonry System is a breathable, viable alternative for external lime substrates. It is a simple two part system consisting of primer and paint, which once applied is incredibly long lasting. Unlike lime wash, Ecopro Silicate Paint will not peel or flake yet still remains moisture-permeable, enabling water vapour to pass easily through the substrate thus allowing your property to breathe.

Many of our stockists are experts in traditional building and decorating techniques, a number of whom specialise in lime products, providing raw materials and advice. We would always suggest seeking advice from a professional who has experience with lime. If you have any questions give us a call, drop us a line or chat to any of our lovely stockists.

The post What is the best paint for lime plastered walls? appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

The term ‘breathability’ can be a bit confusing, especially when it comes to choosing the right paint. When we talk about paint breathability, we’re referring to how much air and water vapour can easily flow through the surface. Using paint with a high level of breathability, coupled with breathable building materials, means that moisture doesn’t become ‘trapped’ beneath the surface of the paint. Trapped moisture, also known as damp, can cause the paint to bubble, peel and eventually blow completely. It can also lead to much bigger problems within the fabric of the building itself.

Whilst one common approach is to use waterproof paints and materials designed to block moisture, this can actually exacerbate the problem. As walls naturally move, tiny cracks appear and let moisture in. Water will often find its way through the smallest of hairline cracks, but with a waterproof paint it remains trapped within the walls, creating damp issues.

How do I know if a paint is breathable?

Many products are marketed as ‘breathable’, and whilst all paints are breathable to a degree, what’s important is how breathable. When looking for a breathable paint, there are two common ways to check how breathable it is.

The first is the SD (Steam Diffusion) value, which is a German method for measuring breathability. It is widely accepted that for a paint to be classed as breathable it should have an SD value of 1 or lower; the lower the value the more breathable the paint. Our Claypaint has an SD value of just 0.02m.

The other method used to measure breathability is the moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR). It measures the amount of water vapour (in grams) able to pass through the paint surface over a 24 hour period. The higher the figure, the more water vapour that can pass through, and therefore the more breathable the paint. Claypaint has a figure of 1115g/m²/24h, compared with a typical emulsion paint which usually measures between 400-500g/m²/24h.

Externally, our  Silicate Masonry Paint carries a reading of 1264g/m²/24h. Most modern masonry paints typically measure between 200-400g/m²/24h and contain non-breathable plastics that, whilst designed to waterproof the building, will flake off in the long run as damp forms.

If you’re unsure as to whether Earthborn’s paints are right for your project, head to our FAQs here or give our team a call on 01928 734171.

The post Why is breathability so important when choosing paint? appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

Exterior lime render

Lime render is a traditional building material that allows the walls of a building to breathe. Due to this high level of breathability, lime render helps retain flexibility and reduce the risk of decay; which is a particularly important factor for older buildings.

Modern cement render, by contrast, isn’t breathable and tends to ‘seal’ the walls. Although it is often used to repair previously lime rendered buildings, if used on old, traditionally built properties, cement render can cause moisture to become trapped, leading to a variety of problems.

The exterior of Paddington Cemetery Lodge was stripped back and painted in Earthborn’s breathable Silicate Paint in the colour ‘Portland’

Breathability

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) offers lots of advice and information on the treatment of lime rendered buildings and the importance of breathability, especially on older buildings. They explain:

‘In the context of building materials… the generic term ‘breathable’ is used to describe an important property of building fabric: the extent to which building materials are able to transmit moisture. Breathable materials should be sufficiently permeable to enable absorbed and surface moisture to evaporate during ambient drying conditions. Loss of moisture from the material needs to occur rapidly enough to ensure that there is no accumulation of moisture which can lead, over time, to significant deterioration of building fabric, development of mould growth, infestation, or other form of decay. A breathable material, by definition, cannot be impermeable and should not trap moisture.’

Emma from The Little Stone Cottage used our highly breathable Silicate Masonry Paint on her lime rendered property

Painting exterior lime render

Whilst both lime and cement based renders have their own advantages and disadvantages, it’s especially important to use a breathable finish on lime rendered exterior walls. Using conventional ‘plastic’ based masonry paints on lime substrates could potentially cause longer term issues by trapping damp, and even causing damage to the fabric of the building itself.

Limewash is the traditional finish for exterior lime render. It has an authentic, chalky finish and is highly breathable. It doesn’t seal the surface and instead lets moisture pass easily through it.

However, it requires many coats and is labour intensive to apply. The colour range can also be more limited due to its natural ingredients. Finally, limewash usually requires regular upkeep – recoating every few years – which isn’t always practical for many homeowners.

Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint is a highly breathable protective finish suitable for lime render, recommended by lots of lime specialists. It’s a two-part system consisting of paint and primer and works by physically knitting into the substrate, forming an extremely long lasting, highly breathable yet protective finish.

One Earthborn customer used our Silicate Masonry Paint colour ‘Honeycomb’, a warm creamy shade that’s perfect for this historic cottage

How to apply Earthborn Silicate Masonry Paint to exterior lime render

We’re often asked about the best way to paint exterior lime render, so we’ve put together a few pointers which we hope will help:

• Earthborn Silicate Primer and Silicate Masonry Paint should be applied to bare, unpainted masonry substrates such as lime render. It’s also suitable for use on brick, stone, pebbledash and concrete.
• The surface should be clean, dry, sound and stable and the temperature needs to be a minimum of 8°C day and night when painting and drying.
• If painting onto new lime render, allow enough time to for the lime to cure as well as dry before applying any paint. Your lime provider should be able to advise, but as a rule of thumb we recommend 4 weeks’ curing time for every 5mm thickness of render. Painting before this time can prevent the lime from curing properly so it’s important not to paint too early.
• Whatever the age of your lime rendered property, it’s imperative to use a breathable finish so as not to seal the walls and to allow the lime, and the building, to continue to breathe.

The Silicate Masonry Paint colour ‘Honeycomb’ was also used for this beautiful lime rendered property

Following these simple guidelines will result in a super long lasting, highly durable and breathable finish for your lime rendered property.

Ready to paint? Click here to order a free colour card and paint samples!

The post Breathability focus: painting exterior lime render appeared first on Earthborn Paints.

However, the term ‘eco-friendly’ can also be a bit confusing. What exactly makes a paint eco-friendly? Is there such a thing as all-natural paint? And does non-toxic mean it doesn’t contain chemicals? Here we separate fact from fiction and explain in our guide to environmentally friendly paint.

A bit more about Earthborn…

Our paints were first developed with the simple intention of producing eco-friendly paints that are better for the environment and healthier to live with.

At that time, many paints still contained high levels of VOCs. And oil based, highly toxic paints were still the market leaders. We knew there must be an alternative and our research led us to Claypaint, a highly breathable paint free from oils and acrylics with no nasty paint smells.

As our range of finishes grew, we were determined that all our products would continue to be free from harmful emissions with no added VOCs, with the level of synthetic ingredients kept to a minimum.

Does Earthborn produce natural paints?

The short answer is no; there is no such thing as a liquid natural paint in a tin!

All paints by necessity contain some synthetic chemicals. For instance water based paints require a preservative to keep them ‘fresh’, otherwise they would go off before it even reaches your home! Earthborn’s paints have to contain things which ideally we would not use, such as synthetic binders and a biocide. All liquid paints contain synthetic binders – but like wine, ours is produced from natural ingredients. We use a food grade biocide in much reduced quantities.

The perception of ‘natural’ held by most people is a positive thing – but this is not entirely accurate. People say natural when what they usually want is something healthy, wholesome and with minimal impact of the environment. That is what Earthborn paints are designed to be and that is what makes our paints different.

Earthborn is ALWAYS open about its paints and ingredients and we NEVER call it natural. Healthy and minimal impact on the environment is the ethos enshrined in the Earthborn brand.

Are Earthborn paints non-toxic?

Earthborn’s paints are completely non-toxic. When it comes to paint, non-toxic means it isn’t poisonous and Earthborn paints do not contain any poisonous ingredients. However the terms ‘non-toxic’ isn’t always helpful to consumers because it isn’t a legislated phrase.

How can I be sure a paint is eco-friendly?

While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to buying eco-friendly paint, here are some things you can check to help make a more environmentally friendly paint choice:

1. Check the ingredients

What is in the tin? We list all ingredients on our tins because there is nothing we’d hide in our paints. We know that our customers really care about the paint they put on their walls and we think that displaying ingredients is the best way to allow consumers to make informed decisions about what they are buying.

2. Look for independent accreditation and certification

If a company refers to their paint as green or eco-friendly look to see if anyone else is independently backing up their claims. At Earthborn we are proud to have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for our Claypaint and Eco Chic finishes.  This European award is completely independent and is based on our paints meeting the strict environmental and performance criteria of the EU Ecolabel scheme.

3. Is the paint child-safe?

Our paints are formulated with environmentally friendly ingredients, with no nasty paint smells or harmful emissions, making them safe to use in children’s bedrooms and nurseries.

The following are certified as being safe to use on children’s walls, furniture and toys, carrying the Safety of Toys Standard (EN71-3:2019): Claypaint, Eco Chic, Eggshell No.17, Lifestyle, Furniture Wax, Furniture Glaze, Multi Purpose Primer, Wall Glaze.

4. What other eco-friendly measures are in place?

Sometimes it’s not just about checking the eco credentials of a certain product; it’s the ethos of the whole brand too. At Earthborn we’re always looking for ways to make our company practices more eco-friendly. For example, our environmentally friendly loose-fill (that’s ‘polystyrene’ style foam chip) packaging is fully biodegradable and compostable, made from sustainable sources. Our colour cards are fully recyclable using biodegradable glue and our tins are produced with 70% recycled material.

To find out more, head to our FAQs or drop us a line.

The post Earthborn’s guide to eco-friendly, non-toxic paint appeared first on Earthborn Paints.