Understanding sustainability claims, and separating greenwashing from genuine eco credentials can be a challenge for environmentally aware consumers.
Awareness of the full cycle of a product including disposal and / or recycling is an important part of your purchasing decision. Natural paint is made from things like plant oils, natural resins, waxes, clay, chalk, lime, cellulose and mineral pigments.
But what happens to leftover natural paint? How can it be disposed of without environmental harm, and can any paint really be compostable and biodegradable?
Can You Put Natural Paint in Garden Compost?
Absolutely, yes. You can dispose of some types of natural paint in your garden compost. But let's dispel the notion you can just upend your unused paint into your compost bin and expect it to return to the earth!
From our own ranges, Auro paint can be composted in your garden bin. But you must dry it out first. You can either leave it to dry out in the tin, or pour it out onto a non porous surface to dry. The paint should then be broken up into small pieces and added to your compost. From there, the ingredients can be returned to nature in your own garden.
Note: If you've been storing your Auro paint for a while and it's gone mouldy, you should not compost it. Protect the health of your heap, and dispose of it in your general waste.
Can I Pour it Down the Sink?
You should never dispose of any paint, even natural paint, by pouring it down the sink. It doesn't belong in the wastewater system. Plus you might cause a blockage in your drainage system. Not fun.
Auro is the only paint we carry that can be composted domestically. It can also be disposed of in household waste in its dried form because it's biodegradable.
What Does Biodegradable Paint Mean?
Biodegradable paint is any coating which is made from natural ingredients like plant based resins, chalk, clay, lime and earth pigments. It will break down naturally (biodegrade) without releasing nasty toxic chemicals into the environment.
Our other top brands, Graphenstone and Earthborn are both biodegradable. They can be disposed of once dried out. The paint residue can be added to general waste, and the cans placed in your household recycling.
Graphenstone paint holds Cradle to Cradle Silver certification, whilst Auro holds Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification. These are global product standards which recognise products designed for a more sustainable, reusable, and responsible economy.
What Does Biodegradable Mean?
For a substance to be biodegradable it must break down naturally into simpler, harmless substances through the action of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi.
Are All Natural Paint Ingredients Biodegradable?
Not all natural paint ingredients are biodegradable in the conventional sense. Mineral based ingredients can't be broken down, but they're already a simple and environmentally friendly substance.
Here's our most common natural paint ingredients:
- Clay - A natural earth material already present in soil. Clay helps create soft, breathable, matt paint finishes.
- Chalk / Calcium Carbonate - A naturally occurring mineral used to give paint body, coverage and texture. It's not biodegradable in the traditional sense, but it is already part of the natural environment.
- Lime - Made from limestone and used for traditional breathable finishes. Lime based paints and washes have a long history in older and traditional buildings.
- Plant Oils - Oils such as linseed oil come from renewable plant sources and are used in many natural paints, stains and wood finishes.
- Natural Resins and Waxes - These can add durability, richness and protection without relying on synthetic plastic binders.
- Cellulose - A plant derived ingredient often used as a thickener or stabiliser.
- Casein - A milk protein binder with a long history in traditional paint making.
- Mineral and Earth Pigments - Colourants derived from minerals, oxides or earth based sources, depending on the product.
How is This Different from Conventional Paint?
Many conventional paints are based on synthetic acrylic, vinyl or other petrochemical binders and contain harsh solvents. These binders create a plastic based film on the wall. That film is designed to be durable, washable and resistant to breakdown.
When conventional paint reaches the end of its useful life, that durability becomes part of the problem. The plastic binders do not readily break down and can contribute to microplastic pollution. Paint waste that is disposed of incorrectly can eventually find its way into soil and waterways.
Natural paint takes a different approach. It uses plant based and mineral ingredients such as clay, lime, plant oils and natural resins. These materials create durable, breathable finishes while relying less on persistent synthetic plastics.
So, is Natural Paint Biodegradable & Compostable?
All natural paint is biodegradable, and some are compostable in your home compost bin. Often, environmentally conscious consumers are justifiably suspicious of compostability claims. It often turns out that products marketed as compostable only break down in specialist industrial facilities.
To recap: Auro paint can be composted, while Graphenstone and Earthborn are biodegradable.
Read more about what plant based paint is.
Natural paint gives you beautiful colour, breathable surfaces and a better material choice for your home. At the end of its life, it also offers something conventional plastic based paint cannot - a route back into the natural material cycle rather than another persistent synthetic waste problem.
Need more information about the environmental credentials of our paint? Or advice on things like allergens and other ingredients you're concerned about?
Contact Us. One of our team of paint experts will be happy to help you understand the best paint product for your needs.
