What is Plastic Free Paint? Natural Paint Guide

Apr 16, 2026Kirsty McCubbin

Most people don’t question what paint is made from. At the same time as many consumers are buying non plastic straws and reusable water bottles, they’re coating the inside of their home in plastic based paints.

Paint ingredients are routinely treated as an afterthought. After all, paint is just a simple decorative product. The important things are colour, finish, coverage.

Pictured: Ragdoll, by Earthborn Paints - Available in Clay Paint, Eggshell & Natural Emulsion

But in most standard paints, the binder that makes the paint function is plastic based creating a highly significant but often overlooked source of microplastics in the environment.

Plastic free paint removes that component and replaces it with mineral or plant based systems. The good news is, that switch can be made without the durability or paint finish being affected.

What is Plastic in Paint?

Plastic in paint comes from the binders. Acrylic, Vinyl, and Polyurethane are routinely added to conventional paints to improve water resistance and durability.

The binder is just one of three core paint components:-

Pigment provides colour and opacity.
Solvent allows application, typically water in modern paints.
Binder forms the finished coating.

The binder is responsible for adhesion, film formation, durability and flexibility. When paint dries, it is the binder that forms the surface layer making it a critical part of paint products.

The kicker? There’s absolutely no need for plastic to be used as a paint binder. If you’re adversely affected by paint fumes when decorating, it’s largely caused by the harsh petrochemical products used in standard paints.

Plant Based Paint Binders

Plant based paints replace plastic binders with plant based alternatives derived from natural raw This includes engineered systems designed to perform like a conventional paint.

A good example is Replebin, Auro’s plant based binder system. It is made from renewable raw materials such as sunflower oil and designed to form a stable, durable coating without relying on acrylic or vinyl polymers.

Alongside these modern systems, more traditional binders are still used in some paints including casein (milk protein) which forms a durable mineral bond when combined with lime.

Mineral paints take a different approach again. Instead of organic binders, they use inorganic systems such as lime and silicate.

Lime (calcium hydroxide) - cures by reacting with carbon dioxide, forming a solid mineral structure
Potassium silicate (water glass) - bonds chemically with the substrate rather than forming a surface film

Instead of fusing into a continuous plastic layer, this type of paint formulation cures through chemical or mineral reactions. They do the same job as plastic binders, just through a different chemistry.

How Do Paint Microplastics Get Into The Environment?

Most people don’t consider what happens to paint once it’s on the wall. It’s there forever, right? Sadly not.

Paint microplastics get into our waterways during brush cleaning and when paints are disposed of carelessly. Over time, everyday wear starts to break down the paint you’ve applied to your walls. Cleaning, scuffs, and general use slowly wear away the surface. With plastic based paints, that surface is a plastic based film.

As that film degrades it breaks into microscopic particles that are small enough to be washed into drainage systems and wider water networks.

What Types Of Paint Are Plastic Free?

Plastic free paints are not a single product. They’re a group of paint types that avoid synthetic polymer binders and use alternative systems instead.

The most common options are:

Lime based paints - These use lime as the binder and cure into a mineral surface. They are highly breathable and commonly used on older buildings or where moisture movement matters.
Clay paints - Made from natural clays and mineral fillers, these paints are extremely vapour open. They are best suited to interior walls where a soft, matt finish is preferred.
Natural emulsions - These are the closest alternative to standard paint in terms of appearance. They use plant derived binder systems to deliver a familiar finish and durability, without relying on acrylic or vinyl polymers.

Each type behaves slightly differently, but none contain plastics or harsh chemicals.

Is Plastic Free Paint Washable?

Modern plastic free paints have improved significantly in this area. More traditional natural paint like limewash is not highly durable, but there are many products which are just as washable as their plastic based counterparts.

Graphenstone Grafclean is designed as a durable, everyday paint with strong performance characteristics:

Washability Class 1 (meaning its highly durable).
VOC content below 1 g/L.
Breathability sd ≤ 0.12 m.
Certified for toy safety and indoor air quality.

This allows it to be used in higher traffic areas where durability is important.

Products like Auro 555 provide a more traditional interior finish and offer Washability class 2 meaning it’s still very wipeable and durable for high traffic areas.

Best Plastic Free Paints

Here’s a few of our favourite plastic free paints, they offer effective binder formulations without compromising on eco creds.

Graphenstone Ambient Pro

Graphenstone Ambient Pro is mineral paint based on aerated lime, designed for high breathability and environmental performance.

VOC content < 1 g/L
sd ≤ 0.05 m
Absorbs CO₂ during curing
Breaks down airborne pollutants under visible and UV light
Based on 100 percent lime binder with no reliance on synthetic acrylic systems
Suitable for both interior and exterior use where moisture movement is critical

Graphenstone Grafclean

Graphenstone Grafclean is a durable interior and exterior paint designed for everyday use where washability is required.

Washability Class 1
VOC content < 1 g/L
sd ≤ 0.12 m
EN 71 3 certified for toy safety
Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort GOLD
Lime content acts as a natural preservative within the formulation
Designed to balance breathability with scrub resistance in higher traffic areas

Auro 555

Auro 555 is a plant based interior wall paint with a wide colour range and modern application properties.

VOC content < 1 g/L
sd < 0.1 m
Plant based binder system Replebin derived from natural oils
Very low emission classification under AgBB scheme
Suitable for a wide range of interior substrates including plaster, clay and previously painted surfaces
Provides a familiar emulsion feel without relying on petrochemical acrylic binders

Auro 524

Auro 524 is a high coverage interior paint offering a stronger balance between durability and breathability.

VOC content < 1 g/L
sd < 0.05 m
Class 1 abrasion resistance
Plant based binder system using renewable raw materials
High opacity and strong whiteness for coverage focused applications
Suitable for both mineral and previously coated interior surfaces

Auro 535

Auro 535 is a clay based paint designed for maximum breathability and a natural matt finish.

VOC content < 1 g/L
sd < 0.015 m
Extremely vapour open structure
Made from clay, mineral fillers and plant based binder system
Ideal for interiors where moisture regulation and low sheen finishes are preferred
Provides a more usable alternative to traditional distemper while maintaining high breathability

Plastic Free Paint is a Practical Choice

Plastic free paint is just as effective as petrochemical based alternatives. It’s also non toxic, doesn’t smell dreadful, and can even keep your home naturally mould free or actively clean your indoor air.

So if you’re ready to treat your paint like your plastic straws do contact one of our team of paint experts for a chat about your requirements. We’re here to help keep your ecological halo intact!

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What is Plastic Free Paint? Natural Paint Guide