Buying Vegan Paint

If you want to be sure that your paint is vegan, that it has not been tested on animals or contains any animal by-products, you need to know your paint.

Many of the larger brand paints are made in China or Asia where there are currently mandatory animal testing laws. This is being contested strongly in the cosmetics industry but not so much in other areas. A list of companies that test on animals is available on Vegan Rabbit.

Ingredients derived from animal sources and commonly found in paints are; glycerol, which is used a basic water distributor ingredient in many paints, lanolin waxes (from sheep), female lac, (shellac) beetle and beeswax for use as a binder.

Conventional house paint often uses animal products in the manufacturing process (as well as in the ingredients) ox gall and fish bones for straining the paint for example. It’s very difficult to check these processes and would be the argument for clear vegan labeling on more products in the future.

In more environmentally friendly paint Casein resin, derived from sheep’s milk protein, is often used. It has excellent eco credentials and a ‘breathable’ quality for period properties where lime paints are often required. Its loose polymer structure allows moisture to pass through allowing the surfaces to breathe. Farrow and Ball and Earthborn make Casien paint and while it has extremely low VOC and no PVA content it is NOT vegan.

Vegan paint companies:

This is not an absolute list and I while paint may be vegan that does not mean it is necessarily environmentally friendly. Always look for low VOC (Volitile Organic Content), the UK requirement for low VOC paint is 0.3-7%, which is a large range. The less the VOC the more healthy and environmentally friendly the paint. Also look for the vinyl / PVC content - this is what makes paint hard wearing, less prone to marking and easy to clean but it is essentially adding plastic. Chalky, flat -matt paints tend to have low or no PVC content.

Graphenstone - one of the most certified sustainable paints companies in the world. ‘Harm-free’ paints and primers, certified by the pre-eminent evaluators of products in the world, such as Cradle to Cradle Institute. Fully Vegan and breathable these paints actually absorb CO2.

Earthborne - Not tested on anmimals, eco friendly paint, negligible VOC content, vegan except for there Casein paint range. Read their vegan statement for more info.

Edward Bulmer - Eco, very low VOC paints (0.2%). Will provide a full and open list of ingredients for each paint, all of which are from vegan-friendly sources.

Farrow & Ball - Very low VOC (0.2% emulsion), mostly vegan except for the Casein distemper & Soft distemper.