Graphenstone Eco-Friendly Paint (96 colours)

Graphenstone is a cradle-to-cradle-certified vegan paint (not tested on animals) with a free colour chart (white and 96 colours), all based on lime, and as affordable as other main brands.

Use with eco-friendly decorating tools.

You can donate unwanted paint to Community Repaint where it’s used up to do up local eyesores or passed on (trade decorators can also get involved). Or enter your postcode at Paintcare to find out where to recycle.

House Paint Safety Tips

Most house paints contain volatile organic compounds (which release gases to cause headaches and illness). No paint can be 100% green, as it needs preservatives (even washing clay causes some VOCs). But look for brands that are zero or virtually zero VOC (low VOCs is just greenwash).

Most paints contain preservatives that are fatal if inhaled (true of all paint, and preservative is needed, to stop it going off). Keep children, pets (and pregnant women) out of painted rooms until dry and aired.

Many paints contain pet-toxic titanium dioxide (also in cosmetics and sunscreen) so keep away from wet walls, or use titanium-dioxide-free paints (this post is a few years old).

Lime-based paints can also help to prevent mould and mildew (good to help prevent crib death (along with other factors) but all good green paints should let walls breathe anyway.

If you have an older home, buy a lead painting testing kit, as it can be harmful to pets, children and pregnant/nursing women. It’s best to have a professional remove it, as you need PPE and methods to avoid creating dust/fumes. This post has good info.