VOC in paint is the chemicals that many wall paints contain. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, and are harmful chemicals that are released into the air when you paint the walls of your home. What’s worse is that these chemicals are released a long time after your paint dries due to a process called off-gassing. This article is going to be discussing VOC in paint and ultimately why you should avoid it. 

Why is there VOC in paint?

Firstly, we wanted to cover the background of VOC in paint, starting with why paint even contains VOCs in the first place. The main reason that paint contains these chemicals is because it acts as a medium to transfer the paint from its tin to the wall, aiding the flow of the paint. They also work by preserving the paint and helping prevent spoilage, however with developments in technology and research, it is possible to have just as good quality paint without the involvement of VOCs.

Reasons to avoid VOC in paint:

There are many reasons why we recommend avoiding VOC in paint at all costs. To put it into perspective, VOCs are found not only in paint but also in bleach, cleaning solutions and even car fumes. When you look at it like that, it is clear that inhaling these chemicals is not ideal for our health. Here is a list of side effects of using paint that contains high levels of volatile organic compounds:

• Unpleasant odour
• Headaches
• Dizziness & Light-headedness
• Nausea 
• Sinus irritation
• Worsened asthma symptoms 
• Itchy eyes
• Pollutant 
• Emits greenhouse gases

The benefits of switching to a paint with low levels of VOC in paint

As you can see from the long list of reasons to avoid VOC in paint, it is not the healthiest of things to be breathing in. When you think about it, we are all too familiar with the nasty side effects that come with a fresh lick of paint, so why do we choose to put up with them and simply ignore them when there are alternative options available? Due to advancements in science and technology, paint brands are now able to alter the ingredients in their paint to make them less toxic and minimise the VOCs the paint contains. Here at Victory Colours we have worked hard to develop a huge range of high quality low VOC paints. The aim of our products is to avoid these side effects and importantly give something back to make a difference to our planet. We have put together a list of some of the great advantages of Victory Colours low VOC paint:

• Low VOC
• Non toxic
• Ultra low odour
• Eco-friendly
• Animal cruelty free
• Great opacity 
• Huge range of beautiful colours
• Durable, with washable properties 

Overview of VOC in paint and why you should avoid it

There you have it, some of the key reasons why we suggest switching to a low VOC paint alternative like the ones provided by us here at Victory Colours. You can read more about Low voc paint in our other blog articles and find out why our paint is low odour, toxic free, eco-friendly and vegan. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want to find out more.