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What is low VOC paint?

Embarking on your own DIY journey and wondering which paints to use? Here’s everything you need to know about VOCs and the benefits of using low VOC paint in your home and garden. 

What are VOCs?

VOCs (or Volatile Organic Compounds) are chemical compounds found in various everyday items such as paint, cleaning products and air fresheners. VOCs are used in paint to reduce drying times and help with flow and application, ensuring minimal brush marks for a smooth finish. However, water-based paints with low VOCs achieve even faster drying times alongside excellent coverage.

What are the benefits of low VOC and water-based paints? 

Water-based paints use water as the liquifying agent instead of chemical solvents, meaning that it emits fewer VOCs. The benefits of low VOC and water-based paints include: 


- Fast-drying time. Water-based formulas dry up to 3 x faster than solvent based formulas 
- Low odour for more comfortable paint application  
- Easier clean up after painting 

What qualifies as low VOC paint? 

The British Coatings Federation use the ‘VOC Globe’ scheme below to determine VOC levels:

 
- ‘TRACE’ = The lowest practicable level of VOCs, containing <0.1% VOCs.

- ‘MINIMAL’ = contains 0.1 – 0.29% of VOCs 
- ‘LOW’ = contains 0.30 -7.99% of VOCs 

Which Rust-Oleum paints are low VOC? 

Stirring a can of Kitchen Cupboard Paint in rich green Jasper

The majority of our paints in the range are water-based, low odour and contain only Trace amounts of VOCs (<0.1%). This includes:

 
- Rust-Oleum Chalky Wall Paint  
- Rust-Oleum Floor Paint  
- Rust-Oleum Garden Paint 
- Rust-Oleum uPVC Paint  
- Rust-Oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint 
- Rust-Oleum Furniture Paint and more.  

Our sustainability awards 

Cans of our Bathroom Wall and Bathroom Wood and Cabinet Paint

Sustainability has always been a vital part of the process and we are always improving. Our commitment to environmental responsibility has been recognised by our 2021 Silver EcoVadis medal, meaning that we’re in the top 15% of companies who demonstrate exceptional performance when it comes to ethics and sustainability. 


We were also awarded the BCF’s Coatings Care Overall Best Performer Award 2023 and were recognised as the company who had demonstrated best in class performance where VOC emissions, waste and recycling, energy consumption and health and safety matters are concerned.  

Painting a wall with blue-green Serenity

Want to learn the difference between solvent and water-based paints? Check out our article on the benefits of water-based paints for more info

Rust-Oleum, Tor- Coatings, 21 White Rose Way, Follingsby Park, Gateshead, NE10 8YX

Company Number 04503854