Natural eco paint colours: what is available?
There was a time, not so long ago, when the lack of available colours hindered sales of natural paints. That is no longer the case as genuine natural paints are now available in a myriad of colours.
Apart from certain claypaint colours that take their colour from the clay itself, most natural paints are tinted either with earth and mineral pigments or with synthetic colourants (its important to check that synthetic colourants are VOC free).
Earth and mineral pigments are available in a surprising array of colours including blues and pinks in addition to the expected ochres, umbers and red oxides. Earth and mineral pigments give a wonderful depth of quality that many consider unsurpassed by synthetic alternatives. Walls decorated with natural paint tinted with earth and mineral pigments reflect the light in a more interesting way due to reflection off the pigment grains. Earth and mineral pigments are usually supplied as powders to be mixed into the base paint by the customer themselves.
We have deemed good quality VOC free synthetic pigments as an acceptable compromise to enhance our natural eco paints range. By using synthetic pigments we can offer a colour range to rival conventional brands. The use of these pigments has also allowed us to offer our emulsions pre-mixed to the customers’ desired colour. In addition to standard colours, the use of these synthetic colourants also allows us to colour match.
There are still a few colours unavailable in real natural wall paint as they would require a more transparent petrochemical base to achieve. These are all very deep colours such as pillar-box-red or black.