Human progress has come with a cost to the Earth. It’s time to do better. As technology advances, we must also find ways to right our wrongs and work towards being better inhabitants of our home planet. It takes a little more effort to be mindful of our choices, but our consistent determination will make a significant impact on our future. It may not seem like it at first glance, but there are ways to be eco-friendly when embarking on a paint project too. Here are a few simple ways:
Estimate well to lessen waste
Every paint project will create at least some waste—from used tape and paint-splattered newspapers to paint brushes and rollers you won’t be able to reuse anymore. To be eco-friendly, we can lessen the waste we make. One of the best ways to do this is to make accurate estimations before buying materials and starting the project. This is especially crucial for DIYers as bigger painting jobs will usually already have an estimator (or estimador in Filipino) on the paint team.
For example, it will save you money and also lessen waste if you only buy the paint brushes and rollers you know you’ll be able to use. (Tip: there are several types for both so it’s best to do a little research beforehand.) To lessen waste, you can also gather up scrap cardboard around the house to use as protection for your floors if you don’t have newspapers.
Importantly, you will also need to know how much paint you need to purchase to complete your project. How much will not only depend on the surface area but on the type of surface and the kind of paint you buy. To help you out with paint estimation, Boysen has a paint calculator on its website and the Boysen app. (Here is a quick guide on how to use both.) For more useful information on estimation, check out our How to Estimate a Painting Job blog post.
Choose lead safe and low-VOC paint
Boysen is a proponent of the environmental movement. Boysen continues to practice sustainable manufacturing processes and develop products that produce less harm to the environment or help it become cleaner and greener.
There are many examples that show Boysen’s efforts to be more eco-friendly. For one, know that all Boysen paints are lead safe and several are low-VOC. But what do these scientific-sounding words mean exactly? First, lead is a toxic metal, and exposure to it can do serious and permanent damage to our health. It also contributes to pollution and is an environmental contaminant.
In the past, lead was regularly used in the manufacturing of paint. With Boysen, you can rest easy. The company has earned a Lead Safe Paint certification from the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) ensuring that all its paints are lead safe.
Now for “low-VOC.” VOC stands for volatile organic compound. VOCs are released into the air as paint dries and causes harm to humans and the environment. Boysen follows the Green Seal standard and manufactures water-based coatings that are within international VOC limits.
See if Boysen EcoPrimer, Boysen Cool Shades, or Boysen KNOxOUT fits your needs
There are readily available paint products that not only do the job we want them to do (and do them well) but are also manufactured to be more eco-friendly. Have you heard of these three products and what they can do?
As a Primer: Boysen EcoPrimer
If you’re painting on bare concrete, you will have to apply primer before your topcoat (a.k.a. the paint color of your choice). For this, consider Boysen EcoPrimer. Aside from being an excellent primer for interior and exterior concrete surfaces, it’s also certified safe for its little to no lead and VOC content.
For Your Roof: Boysen Cool Shades
Here’s a way to lessen your home’s energy consumption and keep you cool in the blazing Philippine summer. Boysen Cool Shades is a heat-reflecting roof paint. With the paint’s heat-reflecting pigment, it bounces off light from the sun hitting your roof before it can turn into heat. This helps you conserve electricity (good for both the environment and the family’s monthly budget) and makes your home cooler and more comfortable.
For structures in urban areas: Boysen KNOxOUT
The world’s first-ever air-cleaning paint, KNOxOUT is developed by Boysen as a direct response to air pollution. You may have seen the murals along EDSA painted with it. It uses light energy to break down smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx), converting them into harmless substances.
As a parting word, remember that no matter how small they may seem, all our actions and attempts to be considerate of the environment do make a difference. We can change the course of our future. Happy eco-friendly painting!
For inquiries or to learn more about on any of our products, send us an email at ask@myboysen.com or call us at (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for a one-on-one consultation.
