In an ever more competitive marketplace, paint companies are looking for new and different ways to stand out, including promoting the green credentials of their products. One criteria that has been used (or perhaps more accurately mis-used) as a differentiator in recent years is Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content. VOC is a general term referring to any organic substance with an initial boiling point less than or equal to 250 degrees Centigrade (European Union definition) that can be released from the paint into the air, and thus may cause atmospheric pollution. VOCs are volatile organic compounds that can be naturally occurring (such as ethanol) or can be synthesised chemically. The VOC content in water-based paints may be a very small amount of solvent or trace levels of additive in the paint that are needed to enhance its performance – for example, to help the paint flow out and give an even surface. It is important for the consumer to be aware of the true impact of painting on the environment, what VOC content actually means, and especially the questionable use of terms such as ‘Zero VOC’ and ‘VOC-free’ by certain decorative paint suppliers in the UK. VOC Content – following the law In terms of VOC content, the decorative paint industry across Europe is required to follow their own national legislation, based on the European Paints Directive 2004/42/EC. This directive controls the VOC content in decorative paints (and paints for vehicle refinishing), thus reducing their environmental impact. This had a major impact on the paint industry, accelerating the move to water-based paints and the development of new materials that would permit lower VOCs to be used in paint without compromising its performance. The Directive revolves around a series of limits (maximum VOC content) for each category of paint, according to its type and application. For example, a typical interior matt paint for walls or ceilings has a maximum VOC content / limit of 30g per litre. Paint manufacturers demonstrate their compliance by showing the VOC content of their paint on the product label, referring to the appropriate category and limit. Many matt wall paints on the UK market now have less than 10g / litre or even lower levels – these are measured according to agreed international standards using appropriate analytical methods. So, these types of paints have a very minimal impact on air pollution and the environment. However, it is important to note that there is no mention whatsoever of the term ‘Zero VOC’ or ‘VOC-free’ in the Directive, in any related legislation, or in the standards used to determine the VOC content of paints. Zero VOC claims – what’s wrong with them? Paint is made up of a number of components. Some of these may be of natural origin (such as minerals, chalk, clays or natural oils), other components (such as binders, pigments and additives) are more often synthetically-derived from different industrial chemical processes. All these components need to undergo some degree of washing, refinement, processing or chemical treatment, so they can be successfully used to make paint. These production steps necessitate the use of different process aids, including substances that are classed as VOCs. Although every effort is made to remove these VOCs through drying and purifying, there will still be trace amounts in the finished raw materials that are used to make the paint and the tinting pastes that are needed to be used. Therefore, there is no such thing as a truly 100% VOC-free or Zero VOC paint, as all paints will contain very small (trace) amounts of VOCs through their raw materials. Given that no paint is truly VOC-free, the paint industry across Europe (as represented through their trade association CEPE) agreed in March 2013 not to use Zero VOC claims in the promotion of their products. Similarly, all the major UK manufacturers of decorative paints, who are members of the British Coatings Federation (BCF), confirmed the same position in November 2015. The BCF statement also emphasised the point that companies using Zero VOC claims are not following the UK Government’s guidance on green claims, which refers to the need for companies to make ‘clear, accurate, relevant and substantiated claims’ to avoid misleading consumers. Unfortunately, there are several paint suppliers in the UK that are persisting with the use of Zero VOC / VOC-free claims for their products, despite the industry’s best efforts to bring the issue to their attention. Several media articles have referred to paint below a certain VOC content (e.g. paints containing less than 0.2% VOC), being regarded as VOC-free, however this is incorrect and is certainly not a recognised approach within the UK paint industry or in Europe. The mis-use of Zero VOC terminology in the US is also having an impact on the UK coatings sector, as they commonly label any paints with less than 5g / litre as ‘Zero VOC’ products, and some companies are importing such paints into the UK market.  The use of these claims for paints is therefore both incorrect and unjustifiable – there is no definition for ‘VOC-free’, nor recognised analytical test that can be used to demonstrate a paint as having zero VOC content. Therefore, members of the public continue to be mis-led when purchasing their ‘Zero VOC’ paint, which is not free of VOCs and consequently is not proven to be any better for the environment than other decorative paints on the market. Environmental foot-printing and paints So where do we go from here? How can consumers choose a paint that will have a minimal impact on the environment? What criteria can be used instead of VOC to select an environmentally-friendly product? The paint industry, along with 26 other piloted sectors, is currently working with the European Commission on a project to determine the overall environmental impact of consumer products, from the start of their production to the end of their lifetime (so-called cradle-to-grave approach). This project, called the Product Environmental Footprinting or PEF project, is due to be completed within

The UK Government and the central bank of Lebanon has shown their support for a tech startup project which could see the way freelance engineers and architects are contacted forever. The platform that has been founded by Ramzi Jreidini will attempt to bring together clients that have construction projects with engineers and architects that would be required to complete them. The platform Handiss is expected to become a globally known project quite soon after being selected for support by Nucleus which is an initiative with has been set up by The UK Lebanon Tech Hub. Handiss was one in seven projects to be selected for this support. The platform looks to connect those working in the architecture or engineering industry to projects, on a project to project basis as opposed to to full time jobs. This is an innovative way of connecting clients to people in the industry. Other portals that may be similar to Handiss on the market focus solely on offering work as part of a full time job search for companies. The Nucleus Initiative which has shown its support for the new platform is backed by the Central Bank of Lebanon as well as the UK Government. The Initiative was created in order to nurture entrepreneurial ideas as well as research and development projects that take place in Lebanon. The entrepreneurs that are supported by Nucleus are able to make the most of a 12 week period that offers opportunities for product development, and improvements to business models. There are also a range of workshops available that will help with areas such as finance and legal structures and raising capital. As part of the Nucleus Initiative, the companies will be given a board, much like the one on Dragon’s Den that will be filled with experts from relevant fields. Monthly board meetings will be carried out over the course of the programme in order to make sure that a plan for the company and the product or idea has been made and followed.