Coat it Green criterias

Chemicals in raw materials – reasons for limited or banned use

VOC –Volatile organic compound

VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, which are chemical compounds that have high enough vapour pressures under normal conditions to significantly vapourise and enter the air. VOCs that escape into the air contribute to air pollution outdoors and inside our homes and are bad both for our health and the environment. The degradation of VOC in the environment contributes to the so called green-house effect (global warming).

In coatings, the VOC contribution is mainly due to the use of solvents in so called solvent borne coatings. By using waterborne or UV-curable products, the use of VOC is significantly reduced and amounts only to a few percent in waterborne and not more than 1% in 100% UV-curable products. We guarantee that all our coated green products contain VOC below 130 g/l.

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Aromatic solvents

Aromatic solvents are among the most dangerous solvents and some are highly carcinogenic such as benzene. Other examples are toluene which may cause adverse reproductive effect (reproduction toxic) and xylene and ethylbenzene which are harmful by inhalation. Aromatic solvents are also bad for the environment.

Phthalates

Phthalates can be used as plasticizers, film forming agents, binders etc.  A typical use is as plasticizer in plastic articles such as PVC.  Phthalates are not permanently bound to the products and are therefore released to the surroundings during their lifetime. Several phthalates such as DEHP and DBP are associated with health risks and may impair fertility and cause harm to the unborn child.

The most hazardous phthalates are prohibited according to EU-regulations to use in toys and children’s articles.

PAH – Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

PAHs are the largest group of carcinogenic substances we know of today. PAHs are produced as by-products when fuel is burnt. PAHs are one of the most widespread organic pollutants and some of them have been identified as carcinogenic (e.g. benzo[a]pyrene, which is also found in cigarette smoke). The majority of all PAHs are not used as individual compounds but occur in various mixtures e.g. in automobile exhaust, soil and oils.

PAHs are generally stable which means that they may be dispersed a long way in the environment before breakdown occurs.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a gas which is irritating to eyes and the respiratory system (nose).  Formaldehyde may also cause allergic reactions.  In the beginning of the nineties, formaldehyde emission from particle boards was a big problem due to the fact that the glue was not fully cured.

Formaldehyde is a common building block for the synthesis of different compounds. In the paint industry amino resins are used in acid catalyzed coatings. When such coatings are cured, formaldehyde is released.

Heavy metals (EN71, part 3), lead and cadmium

The ingestion of heavy metals may cause several adverse health effects. The most dangerous heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are regulated within several areas. Lead pigment are not used any longer by Swedish paint manufacturers with the exception of lead oxide. Cadmium is not longer used in paints with the exception of artist’s paints. Other heavy metals are avoided to the highest extent possible.  The most important, from a health perspective when being in contact with a coated surface, is that no harmful metals migrate from the coating, even if a piece of the coating is ingested. The EU regulation EN71-3:1994 stipulates test methods and limits to comply with. For toys it is mandatory to comply with this regulation.

Styrene

Styrene is a liquid, but evaporates easily to gas and is harmful by inhalation as well as irritating both to eyes and skin. It is possibly carcinogenic to humans according to IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer). In the coatings business, styrene is a reactive dilutant for so called unsaturated polyesters.

SVHC-substances

SVHC stands for Substances of Very High Concern.  These substances may have very serious and often irreversible effects on humans and the environment. The European Chemicals Agency has published a so called candidate list containing identified SVHC-substances. The use of such substances within the EU, will be regulated in the future by the extensive REACH-regulation 1907/2006. (REACH =Registration, Evalutation, Authorization and restriction of Chemicals).

Genom att använda lösningsmedelsfria produkter eller produkter med ett lågt lösningsmedelsinnehåll, reduceras VOC- innehållet avsevärt. Vi garanterar att alla våra Coat it Green produkter innehåller VOC-koncentrationer under 130 g / l (våt färg).