August 5, 2009—YOLO Colorhouse, the Oregon-based paint manufacturer focused on environmental finishes, has achieved Green Seal certification for its entire line of interior and exterior latex paint. By adjusting the levels of VOCs allowed in base paint and including criteria for colorants, the new standard ensures that even a heavily tinted paint will still contain minimum VOCs, notes the company.
YOLO Colorhouse paint was previously certified under the GS-11 environmental standard for Paints, but they are now the first to achieve this new leadership level of certification under the recently revised Green Seal GS-11 standard for Paint and Coatings, revised in May of 2008.
YOLO Colorhouse says its newly certified paints work harder to protect indoor air quality, contain less hazardous chemicals, reduce VOC (volatile organic compound) levels, and expand consumer education. According to the company, all of its coatings are completely free of carcinogens, formaldehyde, phthalates, hazardous air pollutants, and ozone depleting compounds.
Besides prohibiting more than 1,000 specified chemical compounds under the stringent new GS-11 2008 certification, Green Seal considers the whole life cycle of a product. Under the new standard manufacturers are required to include instructions for buying only what the consumer needs so there is less leftover paint. Labels should also encourage recycling or proper disposal of any unused paint.
