The Natural Approach to Coatings

By Cynthia Challener

Consumers in recent years have begun to demand more “natural” products. Store shelves have exploded with foods, dietary supplements, nu­traceuticals, and personal care products containing natural ingredients. In the auto industry, cars painted in more natural, earthy tones are expected to take a greater share of the market in the next few years.

Demand for natural shades in home decorating is increasing as well. Not surprisingly, there is also a growing interest in paint products manufactured with natural raw ma­terials.

Of course, the first paints developed by the modern coatings industry were based on the natural raw material linseed oil and its derivatives. Waterborne coatings containing synthetic resins began gaining in popularity some decades ago and continue to receive attention as they are more “envi­ronmentally friendly” than the alternative, solventborne coatings.

However, they are not as “green” as possible. To be sure, some specialty furniture coat­ings today are based on tung oil, and shellac is a natural material that con­tinues to see use, but using a natural material or materials does not necessar­ily make a product green or environmentally friendly if oil and solvents are still used in the formulation process.