What is an ecological paint?
Man has indulged in nature and its resources with the industrial explosion of the last 150 years and now, having begun to understand - perhaps not yet in depth - the problems that will follow in the coming years has begun to seek corrective action.
Consumers realize that their attitude towards the environment must be differentiated and they must begin to respect nature and its resources.
Businesses are beginning to realize that their activities in many cases affect the environment and that they are responsible for tackling the problems they create.
THE ECOLOGICAL SIGN OF EUROPEAN UNION…
The member states of the European Union have included in the Maastricht Treaty the protection of the environment in the goals of a united Europe, keeping in mind that sustainable economic development is impossible without respect for the environment.
The goal is to design, produce and distribute products that are less burdensome to the environment throughout their lives.
With this in mind, the EEC Regulation 880/1992 Community Implementation System (EEC Regulation 880) was implemented in March 1992, which is based on documented, objective and scientific criteria to assess whether a product is ecological or not.
The aim is for the Ecological products not to lag behind in terms of technical characteristics and their performance.
This framework is voluntary, it aims to cover as many product categories as possible and the criteria should be re-evaluated every five years.
Each product that meets the criteria is certified with "Margarita", the ecological sign of the European Union.
Only any product that bears the ecological mark can be characterized as Ecological!
The Ecological Signal System is:
- Pan-European
- Optional
- Selective
- Transparent and representative
- It is officially approved
- It is based on multiple criteria
- It has a characteristic logo (the flower)
Ecological criteria are determined based on how much the product pollutes "from the cradle to the grave", i.e. in each of the stages of its life, starting from the extraction and production of raw materials, continuing with the production process, packaging, distribution, use, duration, ending up in the final mood in the environment. In all these stages, the following factors are taken into account (multiple criteria):
- air quality, water quality
- soil protection, waste reduction
- energy saving, natural resource management
- prevention of global warming
- protection of the ozone layer
- environmental safety, noise
- technical characteristics and performance of the product during application and use
- instructions for safe use and disposal of product residue in the environment
The characteristic logo, (daisy), characterizes all the products in which the Ecological brand has been awarded. The products, which bear the daisy, are recognized by more than 370 million consumers in Europe.
THE CRITERIA FOR DISMISSAL OF THE ECOLOGICAL SYMBOL IN PAINTS AND VARNISHES OF INTERNAL & EXTERNAL SURFACES
The Ecological Criteria of Interior Spaces & External Spaces
{Commission Decision (EU) 2014/312 / EU} are as follows:
- High coverage and performance
- Further reduction in the already low content of Flying Organic Organizations (VOCs) and a new restriction on the use of Semi-Organic Organic Organizations (SVOCs).
- High resistance to frequent washing (where provided).
- High adhesion, water resistance and alkaline surfaces.
- Resistance to weather conditions without problems of chalking, peeling, blisters, cracks.
- Claims for satisfaction of properties such as waterproofing, respiration, elasticity and bridging cracks, anti-mold action are verified by an independent body / laboratory.
- They do not contain heavy metals or carcinogens and toxic substances (APEOS, DINP, DIDP, PFAS, PFCA, PFOA and the related substances listed in the OECD "Preliminary lists of PFOS, PFAS, PFOA" (Strict limits).
- Further restriction of hazardous substances to humans and the environment to "their entire life cycle". They do not contain substances or mixtures that have been classified as toxic, environmentally hazardous, respiratory or skin sensitizers or carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction.
- Very low limits on the use of biocides (e.g. container preservatives, membranes, dyes).
- User information to protect the environment (Recommendations for cleaning tools and waste management in order to reduce water pollution. Tips for calculating the amount needed and using the right primer to reduce consumption but and surplus reduction).
- Flying Aromatic Carbohydrates (VAH).
ANSWERS TO COMPOSITIONS QUESTIONS RELATED TO ECOLOGICAL COLORS…
1. Why ecological colors?
- The balance in the environment has been disturbed.
- The temperature of the planet is rising, and the climate is changing.
- The responsibility is on everyone.
- Do you want your home to be clean and tidy inside and out?
- Have you thought that many other organisms, animals or plants on our planet want the same?
- Use eco-friendly products.
- Encourage others to use ecological products.
- There is a way to beautify your home and protect our planet.
2. What are Ecological colors?
Ecologically, the colors that pollute the environment the least in "their entire life cycle", from the extraction of raw materials, the production process, packaging, distribution, use and application, duration, to the final disposal of the environment.
Ecological products combine, without any compromise on quality, the ecological character with the best technical performance, which must be certified by an approved laboratory of the European Union.
In contrast, any color that dilutes with water or does not contain ammonia does not necessarily mean that it is ecological.
3. What is "Margarita"?
"Margarita" is the European Union's Eco-label, certifying the colors that meet the ecological criteria, as reported on 312/2014 / EC. Only products bearing the eco-label can be called ECOLOGICAL.
4. Are all water-soluble paints environmentally friendly?
No! Ecological products are only those that have been certified with the Ecological brand. Ecological products, throughout their "life cycle", pollute the environment very little, meet specific criteria for efficiency, durability, solvent content and toxic substances and in addition an independent organization has tested and certified them.
5. Do ecological paints have coverage?
Evaluation criteria require an ecological paint to have a performance of at least 8 m² / lt for full coverage, i.e. for a finished surface (e.g. 2 hands). This means that the coverage is high.
VECHRO ecological products exceed this requirement by ensuring a yield greater than 9 m² / lit.
6. Do ecological plastics and acrylics dry faster in the summer months and are more difficult to paint?
Drying of plastic and acrylic paints is faster, especially in the summer months, due to the faster evaporation of water.
A plastic paint or acrylic paint can be prescribed and give satisfactory results, regardless of whether it is ecological or not.
All Smaltoplast products for indoor and outdoor surfaces are designed so that they can be comfortably applied to the special Greek climatic conditions, especially during the summer months.
7. Why should I paint with Smaltoplast Ecological, internal or external surface?
Why you can:
to achieve great coverage and performance, with a matte finish
to ensure strong adhesion and high strength
have healthy and safe painting
and to put a little stone in the formation of ecological consciousness in the market.
8. Is it an ecological signal, any signal that indicates an ISO 14001 environmental management system?
ISO 14001 concerns an environmental management system implemented by a company and is not related to the products, as is the case with ISO 9001.
The eco-label is awarded to products and not to the company.
9. Are ecological colors more expensive than conventional ones?
THE MYTH OF PRICES
Vechro, a pioneer, offers complete ecological paint systems for all interior surfaces, with top quality products for the professional and the individual, at cheaper prices than conventional paints and has them nationwide in the best paint