Natural Paint Standards & Certifications 2024

If you’re thinking about painting your home and want something healthier and more eco-friendly, you’re not alone.

Choosing the right paint goes beyond color—your choise can impact your health, the health of your family and the healthiness of your home environment.

Paint isn’t just about picking the perfect color—it’s about what goes into that can. Choosing the right one can have a big impact on your health and the environment.

There’s a ton of different labels from ‘low-VOC’ to ‘eco-friendly,’ and certifications like GREENGUARD Gold or Green Seal (GS-11).

They sound reassuring, right?

But here’s the thing—not all of them are as green or safe as they seem. Some “eco-friendly” paints might even sneak in chemicals that could harm your air quality.

So, how do you know you’re making the right choice? Here’s a quick crash course to help you spot the good, the bad, and the greenwashed.

Key things to keep in mind:

Look for trusted certifications on the label—they’re your best bet for safer paints.
- Most certifications are indeed just marketing and we don’t really trust them either; however at least some can help you navigate the all the products to find least harmful options.
Be cautious of “zero-VOC” claims—these can still have up to 5 g/L of VOCs.

So let’s dig a little deeper to uncover what eco-friendly paints are really about—and how to make sure your home is as safe as it is beautiful.

Why Paint Choices Matter

Paint isn’t just about aesthetics. Studies show that indoor air can be up to 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air, with one of the main culprits being volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paints.

These chemicals don’t simply evaporate after drying; they can linger, releasing harmful gases for months and impacting both health and the environment.

Health Impacts of VOCs

Immediate effects: VOCs can cause headaches, nausea, and throat irritation.
Long-term exposure risks: Prolonged contact with VOCs has been linked to asthma, kidney damage, and neurological disorders.
Vulnerable groups: Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly at risk from these emissions.

The World Health Organization highlights how VOCs from paint contribute to poor indoor air quality, which can remain polluted long after application.

Shockingly, this off-gassing process can last for several months, exposing you to harmful chemicals daily.

But the effects of VOCs extend beyond your home:

VOC emissions contribute to smog formation and ground-level ozone, damaging air quality on a larger scale.
In response, many regions have implemented stricter VOC content regulations to mitigate their environmental impact.

Understanding Paint Certifications

Choosing the right paint isn’t just about color—it’s about creating a healthier home and reducing environmental harm.

Certifications like GREENGUARD Gold and Green Seal are here to help. They act as benchmarks, giving you confidence that the products you’re using are both safe and sustainable.

Let’s break down what these certifications mean and how they differ, so you can make informed choices for your living space.

GREENGUARD Gold: The Standard for Indoor Air Quality

If indoor air quality is your top priority, GREENGUARD Gold is the certification to look for. This label ensures that a product meets some of the strictest standards for low emissions, making it ideal for homes, schools, and healthcare facilities where sensitive individuals may reside.

VOC Limits: Products must emit fewer than 220 μg/m³ of total VOCs.
Testing Criteria: GREENGUARD Gold evaluates over 360 VOCs and 10,000 chemicals.
Formaldehyde Standards: Emissions must be below 7.6 parts per billion.
Rigorous Testing: Certified products undergo testing over a one- to six-month period to ensure compliance.

This certification is especially beneficial if you have children, elderly family members, or anyone with respiratory sensitivities in your home. GREENGUARD Gold certified paints work to significantly reduce harmful indoor pollutants, creating a safer environment for all.

Green Seal: A Holistic Approach to Sustainability

Green Seal takes a broader look at a product’s environmental impact, assessing it across its entire lifecycle—from raw material extraction to disposal. This makes it a great choice for those focused on sustainability as well as safety.

VOC Limits: Flat paints are limited to 50 g/L of VOCs, while non-flat paints can go up to 100 g/L.
Banned Substances: Green Seal certified products avoid carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxins.
Lifecycle Evaluation: Certification considers a product’s overall environmental impact, including manufacturing, use, and disposal.
Recognition: Green Seal products are widely used and trusted, with a 95% recognition rate among purchasers.

This certification is perfect for those who want to ensure their paint not only performs well but also aligns with eco-conscious values.

GREENGUARD Gold vs. Green Seal: Key Differences

Both certifications aim to make paint safer and greener, but they focus on slightly different aspects. Here’s how they compare:

Certification	Focus	VOC Limits	Scope
GREENGUARD Gold	Indoor air quality	< 220 μg/m³	Emissions testing
Green Seal (GS-11)	Overall eco-impact	≤ 50-100 g/L	Lifecycle assessment

GREENGUARD Gold prioritizes reducing emissions that harm indoor air quality, making it perfect for homes with vulnerable occupants. Green Seal, on the other hand, takes a comprehensive approach, focusing on minimizing environmental impact across a product’s entire lifecycle.

Why These Certifications Matter

From a holistic living perspective, both certifications offer incredible benefits:

Healthier Indoor Air: GREENGUARD Gold certified paints help you breathe easier by reducing VOC emissions.
Environmental Responsibility: Green Seal ensures your paint choice aligns with sustainable practices.
Peace of Mind: Both certifications require rigorous testing, giving you confidence in the safety and performance of your paint.

When shopping for paint, look for these labels to ensure you’re creating a space that’s safe for your family and kind to the environment. For the best of both worlds, consider products that meet both GREENGUARD Gold and Green Seal standards.

With the right paint, you can transform your home into a sanctuary that prioritizes health and sustainability.

The Truth About “Eco-Friendly” Labels

Eco-friendly paints are everywhere, but not all are as green as they claim. Terms like “zero-VOC” or “natural” can be misleading unless you know what to look for.

Here’s how to separate the truly sustainable from the cleverly marketed.

Decoding “Zero-VOC” Paints

“Zero-VOC” is often marketed as the ultimate eco-friendly option, but there’s more to the story. While these paints release fewer harmful chemicals compared to traditional options, they aren’t entirely emission-free.

For example, adding pigments or choosing darker shades can increase VOC levels, and some formulations still rely on synthetic, petrochemical ingredients. While better than high-VOC alternatives, “zero-VOC” should not be confused with chemical-free.

To avoid being misled by greenwashing, look out for these common tactics…

Red Flags

Buzzwords without proof: Words like “eco-friendly” or “natural” often lack clear definitions or evidence.
Nature-themed branding: Don’t be swayed by green labels or leafy designs—dig deeper.
No certifications: Genuine eco-friendly paints usually carry third-party certifications like GREENGUARD Gold or Green Seal.

How to Make Smarter Choices

Look for transparency: Reputable brands will provide detailed information about their formulations and processes.
Check for recognized certifications: Certifications are your shortcut to verifying sustainability claims.
Think beyond marketing: Consider the full lifecycle of the product, from production to disposal.

Genuine eco-friendly paints do more than limit emissions—they prioritize indoor air quality, reduce environmental impact, and support sustainable innovation.

When it comes to eco-friendly claims, always dig a little deeper.

The right paint can transform your walls into a safe and sustainable part of your home without compromising on your values.

Beyond Modern Paint: Rediscovering Traditional Options

When it comes to creating a healthier home, natural paints like limewash and clay-based options offer a refreshing alternative to conventional paints.

These traditional choices don’t just beautify your walls—they improve your living environment in ways modern paints often can’t.

Limewash: Nature’s Versatile Paint

Limewash has been used for centuries and continues to stand out for its practical and health-focused advantages:

Breathability: Limewash allows walls to “breathe,” regulating moisture and reducing the risk of mold and mildew. This creates a healthier indoor climate, particularly in humid environments (source).
Natural Antibacterial Properties: Its high pH level makes limewash naturally antibacterial, helping to prevent allergens and creating a cleaner space for sensitive individuals (source).
Eco-Friendly Composition: Made from limestone and water, limewash is non-toxic and biodegradable, aligning with sustainability goals (source).

Clay-Based Paints: A Breath of Fresh Air

Clay-based paints combine tradition with modern practicality:

Improved Air Quality: With no synthetic additives, these paints emit little to no VOCs, contributing to cleaner indoor air (source).
Aesthetic Appeal: Clay paints provide a matte, earthy finish that enhances the warmth of your interiors. Their natural pigments offer a calming, organic palette, perfect for creating a tranquil environment (source).
Durability and Mold Resistance: Their breathability helps regulate humidity, making them resistant to mold and mildew over time (source).

Promoting Healthier Living

Natural paints go beyond aesthetics to actively support well-being:

Toxin-Free Environments: By avoiding harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and heavy metals, limewash and clay-based paints protect occupants from common irritants and long-term health risks.
Mental and Emotional Benefits: The natural colors and textures of these paints evoke calmness and connection to nature, contributing to a sense of harmony at home (source).
Sustainability: Their renewable, biodegradable materials ensure minimal environmental impact during production and disposal (source).

Rediscovering traditional paints like limewash and clay-based options offers more than just a timeless aesthetic. These natural alternatives improve indoor air quality, reduce exposure to toxins, and support sustainable living.

For anyone seeking a healthier, greener home, these paints are more than a design choice—they’re a lifestyle upgrade.

What to Look for When Buying Paint

Choosing the right paint is a step toward a healthier home. By focusing on trusted certifications and key factors on the label, you can align your choices with your health and environmental goals.

Certification Seals to Trust

When selecting paint, look for these reliable certifications to ensure safety and sustainability:

GREENGUARD Gold: Guarantees strict VOC limits, ideal for homes with children, elderly individuals, or respiratory sensitivities. Certified products emit less than 220 μg/m³ of total VOCs.
Green Seal (GS-11): Recognized for promoting safer formulas and rewarding manufacturers for low-VOC content and eco-friendly performance (source).
USDA Biobased: Focuses on renewable ingredients, ensuring paints contain sustainable, plant-based materials (source).
SCS Indoor Advantage and MPI Green Performance: Both verify low- or no-VOC levels, further supporting healthier indoor air.

Key Factors to Check on the Label

Understanding what’s in the can is critical for making a healthy, non-toxic choice:

VOC Content:
- Zero-VOC: ≤5 g/L.
- Low-VOC: ≤50 g/L for flat finishes, ≤100 g/L for non-flat (source).
Ingredients to Avoid: Look out for and avoid carcinogens, formaldehyde, phthalates, heavy metals, and triclosan. These are common in many conventional paints and can pose health risks.
Biocides: Avoid “antifungal” or “antimicrobial” paints that contain harmful biocides (source).
Base and Pigments: Remember, added colorants can increase VOC levels even in zero-VOC base paints.
Natural Alternatives: Opt for paints made with natural ingredients like clay, chalk, plant-based dyes, or milk casein.

The Impact of Healthier Paints

Choosing paints with these attributes will help you in creating a safe, welcoming home:

Healthier Living: Certified paints significantly reduce exposure to toxins, improving indoor air quality and making your space safer for everyone.
Environmental Responsibility: Using eco-certified products minimizes waste and supports sustainable production practices.
Peace of Mind: Trusted labels give confidence that your choices align with your health and sustainability goals.

Every paint purchase is a small choice with a big impact. By prioritizing trusted certifications, understanding VOC levels, and avoiding harmful ingredients, you can create a home that reflects both your style and your values.

These thoughtful decisions protect your family, reduce your environmental footprint, and support a healthier, more sustainable future.

Painting a Healthier Home

Your paint choices go beyond aesthetics—they shape the air you breathe, the health of your family, and the legacy you leave for the planet.

Investing in certified, eco-friendly options is not just a trend but a meaningful step toward creating a safer, healthier living space.

Why It’s Worth the Investment

Certified paints with trusted seals like GREENGUARD Gold and Green Seal ensure reduced exposure to harmful chemicals and improved indoor air quality.

They also align with sustainable practices, supporting eco-conscious manufacturing while offering durability and high performance. Choosing these paints may cost slightly more upfront, but their long-term benefits for health and the environment make them invaluable.

Simple Steps for a Safer, Greener Space

Prioritize Certification: Look for third-party seals to confirm the paint meets strict health and environmental standards.
Read the Label: Check for low VOC content, natural ingredients, and the absence of harmful additives.
Choose Mindfully: Select paints that reflect your commitment to health and sustainability, considering both your immediate needs and the planet’s future.

By being intentional about your paint choices, you’re not just decorating your home—you’re creating a sanctuary that supports your health & wellbeing.