Carbon neutral consumer products

A challenge for many manufacturers, is delivering the quality consumers expect of a product, whilst reducing the overall environmental impact of the product and its manufacturing process.

Making paint is just one example of this. Dulux has always been active in using technology to improve the environmental performance of their products, and most recently have created EnvirO2® – a premium interior paint range, that is low in solvent vapours, and through a certified carbon abatement scheme, is 100% carbon neutral.

Additives classified as Volatile Organics Compounds (VOC) are included in paint to achieve good coverage, easy application and washability. However, these petroleum-based solvents evaporate from paint films while the paint is drying, resulting in unpleasant solvent fumes that may trigger respiratory reactions, and add to air pollution.

Dulux, a consumer product brand of Australian owned Orica, has developed a paint that is low in VOC, but still maintains outstanding performance. EnvirO2® not only reduces fumes, but it is washable (reducing need for frequent reapplication and thereby quantity used), available in a full range of colours, comes as a complete solution (preparation and top coat products), and through the 'Greenhouse Friendly™' scheme has been certified greenhouse neutral. Using the principles of lifecycle assessment, greenhouse gas emissions associated with production, use and disposal are fully offset by approved 'greenhouse friendly' abatement projects.

The company led the move from traditional oil based paints with approximately 50% solvent content, to water-borne paints - which have a solvent level of around 7% - and now Low-VOC paints like EnvirO2® - which have a solvent level of less than 5 grams per litre (<0.5%). This significantly reduces the quantity of VOC released into the atmosphere, and conforms with the low VOC content required by the Green Building Council for Green Stars ratings.

By thinking creatively about how they produce their core products, Dulux have taken positive action against climate change, without compromising the quality of the product they produce.

Orica is a member of the Carbon Innovators Network