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| MPI Green Vision |
Historically the world of paint and coatings was not an environmentally friendly one! Some paints contained mercury, some arsenic and most of us know about paints that contained lead. Paints (today) contain both organic and inorganic compounds or materials, some of which may adversely impact our environment by releasing solvents or other toxic materials at various stages of the product life-cycle. Some reports indicate that almost 4% of the ozone depleting substances in the U.S. are a result of VOC emissions from paint & coating products is a scary thought. How can this be reversed or modified? Making the world a safer place in which to live in should be on the minds of every human being. We all need to take responsibility for using our resources properly and maintaining the environment for future generations. MPI (Master Painters Institute) has as its vision; a paint & coatings industry that develops and uses paints and coatings with balanced performance, safely and appropriately EVERY TIME. To do this, the Institute developed the MPI Green Performance
Standard and a “green” Approved Products List that takes
into consideration not only VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and their
emissions, but performance (i.e durability) as well. Additionally, products, which historically were solvent based, have now been developed in water-based formula. MPI responded by performance-approval of many of these for use on specific substrates and under specific conditions (MPI calls this “Appropriate Specified Use”). For those interested in one measure of ‘environmental friendliness’ (i.e. the VOC levels), MPI began publishing ranges for each and every product listed in the MPI Approved Products List, regardless of the type (interior, exterior, water based or solvent based). The notation system for these VOC levels is categorized into 3 classes or ranges: E3, E2, and E1 (E3 being the lowest in volatile organic compounds). The MPI VOC ranges differ by product type or MPI number, and are reviewed
for possible downward revision twice a year.
This allows the specifier or end user to make an “environmental” choice based on VOC information as well as performance. MPI maintains that performance must be considered, as the product with the lowest VOC level may not be the best overall-performing product in the specific category. (Note: See “Green Paper 1” for more information on the MPI performance study.) Presently, all regulators and ‘encouragers’ of environmental choice ignore paints and coatings beyond “untinted white”. MPI is beginning to develop information for specifiers and end users to enable better environmental choices to be made should they desire to do so. (Note: See “Green Paper 2” for information on that subject.) Disposing of unused paints & coatings is another challenge (Product Stewardship). Several communities in Canada and the United States have recycling depots that accept paint products. In some cases, these are given to non-profit societies to be used, or they are recycled, or disposed of safely. MPI is involved in these ongoing discussions, but has provided for the “Recycled” option in its Green Performance Standard. “Recycled Product” meeting the same stringent performance requirements, chemical content requirements and VOC levels, can be selected by specifiers and users desirous of such products. MPI continues to interact with several environmental organizations (US Green Building Council, LEED, LEED Canada, National Institute of Building Sciences, and Environment Canada, etc.). These are the initiatives already in place at MPI to further our Vision:
An industry that develops and uses paints and coatings with balanced
performance, safely and appropriately EVERY TIME. |
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