Green Coatings
Technology
Paint manufacturers continue to innovate
“greener” paint technology to meet
consumer demand and regulations.
BY TIM WRIGHT
EDITOR
In the years following the release of Al
Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, environmental issues have moved to the
forefront of the U.S’s agenda and the
public’s consciousness. Consumer demand for healthier options today is
being driven by the media’s focus on
issues of health and sustainability. The
idea of “going green” has gained widespread support across a broad spectrum
of consumers and businesses.
From fuel efficient hybrids to
celebrity advocacy to daily headlines
concerning global warming, the green
movement continues to gain momentum. In 2006, for example, an estimated $10 billion worth of green buildings
were under construction in the U.S.
Green chemistry, also known as
sustainable chemistry, is an umbrella concept that has grown substantially since it fully emerged more
than a decade ago. By definition,
green chemistry is the design, development and implementation of chemical products and processes to reduce
or eliminate the use and generation
of substances hazardous to human
health and the environment.
Green is also a marketing tactic.
Having a low level of VOCs has
emerged as a key selling point. All
major paint makers today have
“green” product offerings. Some fea-
ture green certification on the label,
such as Green Seal.
But what makes green paints green
and are they really green?
Many environmental organizations
such as the U.S. EPA, South Coast
Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD), Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEEDS)
and Green Seal have established a
number of standards regarding
VOCs. But there is no universally
accepted definition of green as it concerns VOCs and odor.
Generally speaking, VOC levels for
interior latex paints are 150 grams
per liter for non-flat paints and 50
grams per liter for flat paints. Exterior
paints are typically 200 grams per
liter for non-flat and 100 grams per
liter for flat paints.
However, often these levels do not
account for the colorant system that is
added to the base paint. Universal col-
HISTORY OF GREEN CHEMISTRY
1991: The phrase “Green Chemistry” is coined by the chemist Paul Anastas.
1992: UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio
de Janeiro. Agenda 21 was adopted.
1995: On President Bill Clinton´s initiative, EPA started to give an annual “U.S. Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.” Today there are
similar awards in Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Germany and Japan.
1997: The Green Chemistry Institute is formed by Joe Breen in the U.S. In
2001 a similar cooperation is started with the American Chemical Society.
1998: Paul Anastas publishes the book “Green Chemistry: Theory and
Practice” together with J. C. Warner. The book includes “The Twelve Principles
of Green Chemistry.”
1999: The Royal Society of Chemistry in London formed “The Green
Chemistry Network” and started to publish the paper “Green Chemistry.”
2002: “Handbook of Green Chemistry and Technology” is published.
2003: MISTRA´s Greenchem program is started.
