FAQ

Established in 2001 & based in the Cotswolds, we’re a specialist natural paint supplier focused on natural, eco friendly paints & sustainable alternatives.

We focus on brands with strong technical performance and eco credentials. We’re passionate about indoor air quality and are proud to offer products that are chosen with indoor air quality, ingredient transparency, and sustainability in mind.

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Our passion for natural paint stems from a belief the products used in our homes should be safe, healthy, and carefully made. We want to educate and inform that switching away from conventional paint and all the chemical nasties in it is a better, healthier, and more environmentally sustainable solution.

We look beyond marketing claims and consider ingredients, technical data, breathability, durability, and emissions. We stock products that are healthier, practical, and genuinely worth recommending.

We stock specialist natural paint brands including Auro, Graphenstone and Earthborn. Our brand guides explain more about each company and their ethos, ingredients, certifications, and product ranges.

• Auro
• Graphenstone
• Earthborn

We use eco friendly protective packaging to help your order arrive safely while reducing unnecessary waste. Manufacturer paint tins, tubs and containers are recyclable once empty.

All queries are answered by one of our team of paint experts, including our founder Chris. We don’t outsource our customer service so all queries are dealt with by us in house.
More: About us, Contact us

We offer express (1-2 day) and standard (3-5 day) delivery options. You’ll be notified via email and provided a tracking number once your order has been dispatched. If you have a customer account set up, your order history, dispatch status, and tracking numbers can be accessed there.

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Coloured paints and finishes are mixed to order and therefore not returnable unless defective. Unused standard stock items can be returned if unopened and undamaged within 14 days.

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Need help with your project? You can contact us on hello@greenshoppaints.co.uk or call 01452 772020

Our colour charts are sent free of charge, you can find them all on our paint colours page. We recommend you make use of these, and purchase a paint tester or swatch before purchasing your paint. Colours you see on your web browser may not be true to life.

Yes! You can mark your order for collection during the checkout process and pop down to our retail outlet to grab your paint.

Yes, we have many trade customers. If you need to discuss making a trade or bulk order, please contact us on hello@greenshoppaints.co.uk for a chat.

We can supply our finishes in bulk for larger projects subject to lead times, and help with specifications. Please contact us on hello@greenshoppaints.co.uk to discuss your needs, we'll be delighted to assist.

Sustainable paint minimises environmental impact at every stage of its lifecycle, and supports health benefits. Common characteristics are paints that are plant or mineral based, virtually zero VOC, breathable, durable, and plastic free.

More: What is sustainable paint?

Conventional paint relies on petrochemical derived ingredients including plastics and harsh solvents. Natural paints are based on plant based binders and natural mineral ingredients like lime and clay.

All the natural paint products we stock are biodegradable. Some are so clean you can compost them in your garden to return the ingredients to the natural cycle.

More: Compostable & biodegradable paint - what does it mean?

Yes. True natural paints are plastic free. They use natural paint binders formulated from plant oils, casein, lime, or minerals to create a durable paint film that's just as effective as conventional paints.

More: What is plastic free paint?

Cradle to Cradle certification is issued by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. It assesses products around material health, clean air, climate, water stewardship, circularity, and social fairness.

More: Cradle to Cradle Certification & paint

The EU Ecolabel is the official environmental label by the EU. It sets criteria for paints and varnishes around environmental impact, restricted substances, VOC limits, and performance. It shows a paint is fit for purpose and environmentally responsible.

Indoor Air Comfort gold is issued by Eurofins, an international testing lab. It assesses products and awards its certification to those that have very low indoor emissions, including VOCS.

AgBB certification is issued by a German scheme for assessing VOC emissions from building products used indoors. For paints, it looks at what’s released into the air after application - testing emissions in laboratory conditions.

Global GreenTag is an independent certification body which tests products on health, transparency, and sustainability. GreenRate examines broader environmental performance, whilst HealthRate looks at health related product information and hazards.

DIN 513160 is a German test standard that looks at how resistant a surface is to saliva and perspiration. It demonstrates a dried paint or finish is safe and will remain stable on surfaces children may touch, handle, or briefly mouth.

EN 71-3 is part of the European toy safety standard. This tests whether certain elements can migrate from a finished surface if a child sucks, licks, mouths, or handles it. When a paint meets this standard it means it's suitable for use on children's toys once dry. A paint meeting this standard will be considered very safe for use in a family environment.

We don’t use the term VOC free because, strictly speaking, it isn’t scientifically accurate. Trace volatile organic compounds exist in materials, in the air and even in what we’d call a vacuum.

That’s why we use trace VOC instead. It’s more honest and more precise.

In practice, trace VOC means the paint contains only extremely small, unavoidable background levels of VOCs - far below conventional paint and with no added solvents, strong fumes or unnecessary off-gassing. It is our way of saying the paint is as clean as current paint chemistry allows, without relying on a misleading label.

Yes. Photocatalytic paint, or fresh air paint, is designed to actively clean the air in your home - reducing indoor air pollution. They’re highly breathable, naturally mould resistant, and absorb pollutants including formaldehyde and CO2.

All of our natural paints will help improve indoor air quality by removing exposure to petrochemical based binders and solvents contained in conventional paints.

More: Photocatalytic & air purifying paint collections

Yes, we stock paints, wood oils and finishes that are entirely free from MI, MIT and BIT preservatives.

These preservatives are used in many water based paints to stop mould, bacteria and yeast growing in the tin, but they are known allergens. Lime based, clay and mineral silicate paints often avoid them because their natural alkalinity helps protect the paint instead. Some of our natural paints contain trace levels of this group of preservatives due to shelf life requirements.

More: MI, MIT and BIT free paint collection, & our detailed guide: MI in paint & allergy risks

Absolutely, our owner Chris started his natural paint business due to his own children’s breathing medical conditions. The paints we stock are all designed to avoid exposure to petrochemical nasties which can trigger allergies and asthma.

Our paints have virtually zero vocs, no harsh fumes, and are suitable for chemically sensitive individuals.

Breathability, also called vapour permeability, shows how easily water vapour passes through a paint film. It is measured using EN ISO 7783 and expressed as an Sd value. The lower the Sd value, the more breathable the paint.

Under the EN 1062-1 classification, highly breathable paints are classed as Class 1, with an Sd value below 0.14m. This makes them ideal for lime plaster, old buildings and walls that need to release moisture.

Here’s what Sd classes mean:-

• Class 1 - Sd under 0.14 m - highly breathable
• Class 2 - 0.14 to 0.5 m - breathable.
• Class 3 - Above 0.5m  - Low breathability

Wet scrub resistance measures how much paint film is worn away after repeated wet cleaning. Its performance is assessed under EN 13300.

Class 1 is the strongest rating, with less than 5 microns of paint film lost after 200 scrub cycles. Paints rated Class 1 are the best choice for busy rooms, kitchens, hallways and family homes where walls need to stand up to regular cleaning.

Washability standards look at whether everyday marks can be wiped away without damaging the finish.

Scrubbability is measured more precisely through wet scrub resistance, using EN 13300 and EN ISO 11998. Class 1 is the strongest rating, showing the paint stands up best to repeated cleaning, while Class 2 is still a good practical choice for everyday household use.

VOC content is measured in grams per litre and shows how many volatile organic compounds are present in liquid paint.

Under UK and EU rules, interior matt wall and ceiling paints are allowed up to 30g/L VOC, while EU Ecolabel sets a much stricter 10g/L limit for the same category. Most of our natural and mineral paints sit below 1g/L, which is virtually zero VOC rather than ordinary low VOC.

VOC content tells you what is in the tin. Indoor Air Ratings tell you what the paint releases into the air after it has been applied.

The French indoor air emissions label rates products from A+ to C, with A+ meaning very low emissions. This is the rating to look for when indoor air quality is important to you, especially in bedrooms, nurseries, living spaces and sensitive homes.

Coverage rate shows how much area a paint covers, usually in square metres per litre. It should be read alongside opacity, because good coverage only helps if the paint also hides the surface properly.

ISO 6504-3 measures hiding power at a fixed spreading rate. EU Ecolabel uses minimum spreading rates, such as 8m²/L for indoor white and light coloured paints at 98% hiding power. EU Ecolabel uses minimum spreading rates to make sure a paint is not only environmentally improved, but also performs properly in real use.

Real coverage performance in your own home depends on surface texture, porosity, colour change and application method.

Opacity class measures how well a paint hides the surface underneath. Under EN 13300, opacity is graded from Class 1 to Class 4, with Class 1 giving the strongest hiding power.

Class 1 means the paint hides at least 99.5% of the contrast beneath it at the stated coverage rate. In practice, this means it covers strong colours, patchy areas and uneven base coats more effectively, giving a cleaner finish with fewer coats.

Adhesion measures how well a paint bonds to the surface underneath. It’s assessed using ISO 2409 cross cut testing, where the dried coating is cut in a grid pattern to see how firmly it stays attached. Strong adhesion helps prevent peeling, flaking and early paint failure, especially on smooth, difficult or previously painted surfaces.

Flexibility measures how well a dried paint film copes with movement without cracking or detaching from the surface it’s been applied to. It’s tested against ISO 1519 standards, where the coated sample is bent around a cylindrical object to check whether the paint film cracks or loses adhesion.

Good flexibility is important on timber, exterior surfaces and older buildings, where expansion, contraction and small surface movement are normal. It helps the coating move with the substrate instead of failing early.

Reaction to fire classification shows how a material behaves when exposed to fire. It is tested under EN 13501-1 and rated using the Euroclass system, which runs from A1 to F.

A1 is non combustible, while A2 means limited combustibility. Extra ratings show smoke production and burning droplets, such as s1 for low smoke and d0 for no flaming droplets. This classification is especially useful for commercial, public and regulated projects where fire performance needs to be clearly specified.

Greenwashing is when a company pretends to be environmentally friendly without really being so.

It’s using green words, colours, or vague claims like eco, natural, clean, voc free, sustainable etc) to look 'sustainable', while the product or business has little or no real environmental benefit, or even causes harm. If terms like this are to be used, check for certifications or ingredients lists

What 'natural' means for AURO paints

When we say an AURO paint is natural, we mean that it’s made from plant and mineral based ingredients, not petrochemicals or synthetic plastics. The raw materials come from things like mineral lime, plant oils, natural resins and natural pigments, and are chosen to be gentle on people and the planet. Because of that natural formulation they are low emission and low-odour, and you can be in the room soon after painting. The paints breathes with the wall, helping moisture escape naturally. The paints are free of petrochemicals, plastics and harsh solvents, with no toxic fumes lingering. Most Auro paints genuinely break down harmlessly over time and can even be composted. So 'natural' isn’t just a buzzword, it means the paint is derived from nature, health-friendlier indoors, and better for the environment than conventional synthetic paints.

Strictly speaking, “VOC-free” isn’t a term we use, because it isn’t scientifically accurate. Even in the most controlled environments, trace volatile organic compounds exist in materials, in the air, and even in what we’d call a vacuum.

Instead, we use “trace VOC” to be honest and precise.

In practice, this means the paints contain only extremely small, unavoidable background levels of VOCs, well below recognised testing limits and far lower than conventional paints. There are no added solvents, no strong fumes, and no off-gassing during or after application.

So when we say trace VOC, we’re saying the paint is as clean as current chemistry allows without relying on a misleading label.

Wet scrub resistance is a standard way of measuring how well a paint stands up to cleaning once it’s dry. Under the EN 13300 test, a painted surface is repeatedly scrubbed with a wet brush. The less paint that wears away, the higher the class.

Higher class (IE class 1) = more durable and easier to clean
Lower class (IE class 5) = more delicate finish, better left unscrubbed

It helps you choose the right paint for how a room is actually used, not just how it looks.

Auro paints that are Class 1:

• Auro 524 (white emulsion)
  

Auro paints that are Class 2:

• Auro 555 (coloured wall emulsion)
• Auro 303 - Silicate White anti mould

Auro paints that are Class 3:

• Auro 331 (white clay paint)
• Auro 535 (coloured clay paint)
• Auro 321 (economy white emulsion)

What does that mean in reality?

Class 1 – Very durable - Highly wipeable. Designed for frequent cleaning and scrubbing.
Class 2 – Washable - Suitable for light cleaning with a damp cloth. Good everyday durability.
Class 3 – Limited cleaning - Can handle occasional wiping, but marks may remain.
Class 4 – Very limited - Not really washable. Best left alone once dry.
Class 5 – Not washable - Decorative only. Will mark or wear if wiped.

It's hard to see the difference between clay paints like Auro 535 clay colours, or Auro 331 white over a natural emulsion such as Auro 555 colours, or Auro 524 white, but there is a difference.

Looks: Fundamentally, the Auro clay paints are more of a matt finish, and look slightly flatter and more velvety than the normal emulsions like the Auro 555.

Durability: The clay paints are not as durable, the white clay Auro 331 and the coloured Auro 535 having a wet scrub resistance of class 3, whereas the Auro white emulsion is class 1, and the Auro 555 colours are class 2.

Summary. Clay is flatter, more matt and a lovely finish, but not as durable or wipeable like the rest.

Auro Emulsion vs Clay Paints – What’s the Difference?

Auro 555 / 524 – Natural Emulsion Paints

What they are - Natural interior emulsions made with plant-based and mineral ingredients, designed to behave like a modern wall paint.

Best for - Everyday walls & ceilings
Modern plaster and plasterboard
Homes where durability and ease of use matter

Finish - Matt, smooth, “normal paint” look
Slightly more even and forgiving than clay paint

Breathability - Breathable natural paint
Suitable for most modern interiors

Durability & cleaning - More robust surface
Better wipeability than clay paints

Smell & indoor air quality - Very low odour
Trace VOCs, gentle for indoor air

Choose Auro 555 / 524 if… You want a natural alternative to standard emulsion that’s easy to apply, long-lasting, and low-odour.

Auro 535 / 331 – Natural Clay Paints

What they are - Earth-based paints made from clay and mineral pigments, with no plastic binders.

Best for - Period homes and solid walls
Lime plaster and older buildings
Bedrooms and low-traffic rooms

Finish - Ultra-matt, soft, velvety appearance
Very natural, chalky look

Breathability - Extremely breathable (Class 1)
Helps regulate moisture in walls

Durability & cleaning - More delicate surface
Not designed for regular wiping

Smell & indoor air quality - Virtually no smell
Excellent for sensitive people and allergy-prone homes

Choose Auro 535 / 331 if… You want the most breathable, natural wall finish possible, especially for older or solid-walled properties.

Quick choice guide

It's hard to see the difference between clay paints like Auro 535 clay colours, or Auro 331 white over a natural emulsion such as Auro 555 colours, or Auro 524 white, but there is a difference.

Looks: Fundamentally, the Auro clay paints are more of a matt finish, and look slightly flatter and more velvety than the normal emulsions like the Auro 555.

Durability: The clay paints are not as durable, the white clay Auro 331 and the coloured Auro 535 having a wet scrub resistance of class 3, whereas the Auro white emulsion is class 1, and the Auro 555 colours are class 2.

Summary. Clay is flatter, more matt and a lovely finish, but not as durable or wipeable like the rest.

Auro Emulsion vs Clay Paints – What’s the Difference?

Auro 555 / 524 – Natural Emulsion Paints

What they are - Natural interior emulsions made with plant-based and mineral ingredients, designed to behave like a modern wall paint.

Best for - Everyday walls & ceilings
Modern plaster and plasterboard
Homes where durability and ease of use matter

Finish - Matt, smooth, “normal paint” look
Slightly more even and forgiving than clay paint

Breathability - Breathable natural paint
Suitable for most modern interiors

Durability & cleaning - More robust surface
Better wipeability than clay paints

Smell & indoor air quality - Very low odour
Trace VOCs, gentle for indoor air

Choose Auro 555 / 524 if… You want a natural alternative to standard emulsion that’s easy to apply, long-lasting, and low-odour.

Auro 535 / 331 – Natural Clay Paints

What they are - Earth-based paints made from clay and mineral pigments, with no plastic binders.

Best for - Period homes and solid walls
Lime plaster and older buildings
Bedrooms and low-traffic rooms

Finish - Ultra-matt, soft, velvety appearance
Very natural, chalky look

Breathability - Extremely breathable (Class 1)
Helps regulate moisture in walls

Durability & cleaning - More delicate surface
Not designed for regular wiping

Smell & indoor air quality - Virtually no smell
Excellent for sensitive people and allergy-prone homes

Choose Auro 535 / 331 if… You want the most breathable, natural wall finish possible, especially for older or solid-walled properties.

Quick choice guide

Go for Auro 555 / 524 if:

You want durability and wipeability
You’re painting modern walls
You want a familiar paint feel, just without the plastics

Go for Auro 535 / 331 if:

Breathability is your top priority
You have lime plaster or solid walls
You love an ultra-matt, natural finish