YesColours (paints in eco pouches, 66 colours)

YesColours are sold in easy-to-recycle pouches, that protect against moisture, mould and dust. The packaging means you squeeze out what you need, to avoid waste.

The clear circle window lets you check each colour, before opening. This company offers 66 colours as swatch cards (with real paint) instead of wasteful pots.

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 VOCs). But look for brands that are zero or virtually zero VOC (low VOCs is just greenwash).

Use with eco-friendly decorating tools.

Keeping Safe with House Paints

• Paint preservative can be fatal in inhaled (true of all paint), so keep children, pets and pregnant/nursing women out of painted rooms, until dry and aired. Titanium (also found in cosmetics and sunscreen) is also pet-toxic, so keep away from wet walls or use titanium-dioxide-free paints.
• Lime-based paints can 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. 
• For older homes buy a lead paint test kit, as this element can harm. It’s best to have professionals remove it, as you need PPE and special methods to avoid dust/fumes. 

Where to Donate Unwanted Paint

Give old paint cans 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 outlets.