Paints potentially contain a number of harmful chemicals, which is the main reason to choose carefully.

Old paint may contain lead, which was phased out as an ingredient in the 1960’s but is still found around the place. Lots of info on how to identify and deal with lead in paint can be found at the DEFRA website.

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are typically found in gloss paints, and can cause breathing difficulties and crop damage due to reactions causing ozone production (but didn’t we need more ozone in the atmosphere?). You an now buy water-based glosses which contain minimal VOC content, but may have other chemicals added to make up for this!

Natural paints are based on vegetable oils such as linseed. They take longer to dry. Colours are added using natural products such as minerals and milk derivatives. Solvents are based on vegetable turpentine, rather than white spirit which contains xylene and toluene, which are carcinogenic.

Eco- paints are typically more expensive, but are good quality and usually provide excellent coverage, but can be susceptible to durability and stain resistance problems. They fall into 3 categories:

Chemical – similar properties to conventional paints, lower VOCs, water based solvent, but often have added chemicals

Mineral – derived from rocks and ores. Have been around for a very long time! An example is whitewash – but they are a lot more sphosticated than that these days!

Plant – plant extracts used, which may or may not be organic

The basic qualities of an eco-paint, whichever sort you buy, are:

Manufacturers and suppliers include:

Auro supply a range of decorating products including emulsion and gloss paints, primer and undercoat, wood finishes and stains, paint strippers, adhesives, waxes and brushes. They are recommended as a best buy by Ethical Consumer magazine. Auro paints are also supplied by Ecopaints.

Ecos Paints have excellent references from a variety of sources, a large range of paints, and an excellent colour matching facility on the website. They also claim their products are 7,000 purer than their nearest rival, as well as providing a lot of useful information on eco-paints. Also (or formerly) known as Lakeland Paints (as far as I can tell, its all a bit vague). On the down-side, the website is fairly badly organised. Postage is expensive for small quantities and good for large quantities – a flat £8.00 for up to 4 x 5 litre tins, and there is no information about stockists - looks like you have to deal direct.

Nutshell Natural Paints offer a range of glosses and emulsions, undercoats, wood treatments, paste and other decorating materials. They have a colour matching facility of their website, but don’t have the recommendations and awards from the heavy mob published on the site to back up their claims.

Aglaia Natural Paints have been on the go since 1968, an boast an impressive range of natural ingredients. They stock a wide range of decorating products including roll on plaster and metal protection products.

Holkham Linseed Paints offer a limited but attractive range of paints lasting 3 times longer than modern paints, and containing no solvents.

Rendona supply natural paints and pigments, and as well as mail order have a range of suppliers in the UK (mainly in the south).

Leftover paints can be recycled.

To dispose of large quantities of waste paint contact your local council.

Paint will keep for ages if you make sure the lid is firmly put back on the tin. Don’t add to the vast “old paint lake” that is hidden away in garages and sheds throughout the country.