Eco-friendly decorating materials and painting tools

The positive feeling of walking into a well-decorated room is universal. From soothing wall colours to complementary painted furniture, a room’s décor has the ability to put us at ease. Now, what if we said you can take this even further? By opting for eco-friendly decorating materials and painting tools you can appreciate the space without worrying about their cost on the planet.

The power of plastic-free packaging

Climate positivity isn’t just an empty buzzword, it’s a way of life. And it starts small. Today, humanity produces 400 million tonnes of plastic waste every year and 36% of all plastic produced is down to packaging alone. These stats are terrifying, but if we all make small changes we can collectively chip away at the demand for these damaging products and push for real change. And this is what we do.

Doing our bit

There’s nothing more disheartening than something you ordered online arriving in layers of plastic. That’s why, at splat, we take the time (and research) to actively choose more eco-friendly products. We also make sure they’re sent in environmentally conscious packaging – no more needless plastic.

Making the switch

The dirty truth about the global paint and decorating industry is that many products are manufactured without any consideration for their environmental impact. Fortunately, things are finally starting to turn around with the rise of sustainable products and climate conscious brands.

Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to make the switch from products that harm animals, us and the planet we share. Below you’ll find our top picks of eco-friendly decorating materials and painting tools.

Eco-friendly painting tools

Sustainable paint brushes

If you want to brush up on your sustainability, ethical paint brushes are where it’s at. Our favourites are made eco-consciously and from planet-friendly components. Bamboo paint brushes are an option here, but keep in mind the air miles involved in transporting the wood around the world. For this reason, we’d suggest looking for something more locally produced.

Nowadays, there are plenty of British manufacturers who proudly craft these tools here in the UK like our very own line of the splush paint brush.  And it’s easier than ever to find brushes made from sustainable woods and recyclable ferrules, some even with vegan filaments – a win for animal advocates! With the push towards a plastic-free society, many of these are also packaged in recycled materials. Come on, there’s no beating that!

Compostable paint trays

The list is endless when it comes to eco-friendly painting tools, but one less obvious change is to switch out plastic paint trays for biodegradable alternatives. You can use these repeatedly, but they can also be discarded with a lighter conscience. To reuse, there’s no washing involved – merely wipe out excess paint and let it dry. It’s as simple as that.

Eco painters tape

Another out of the box switch you can make is opting for eco-friendly painters tape. Based on Japanese washi tape, Eco Union’s painters tape is 100% recyclable and ridiculously easy to peel. Nice and tacky, it’s up to scratch for any painting project you might have up your sleeve.

Compostable paint kettle

Just like the compostable paint tray, the paint kettle can be used over and over again – another zero waste win! Paired with the use of water-based paint, which can be recycled, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you can dispose of paint in an eco-friendly way all whilst giving your home a needed lick of paint.

Clean spirit

Clean up your act with Bartoline Clean Spirit®. This environmentally friendly alternative to toxic white spirits is entirely comprised of biodegradable ingredients and boasts a high-tech, virtually odourless formula. Another added perk is that its conditioning agent leaves paint brushes beautifully soft to the touch.

Eco friendly dust sheets

Did you know that there are environmentally friendly alternatives to dust sheets? If you didn’t, we hope we’ve blown your mind.  We recommend switching to biodegradable dust sheets as a minimum, or go the extra mile by opting for reusable dust sheets made from cotton twill. They work in exactly the same way as single use dust sheets with added bonus that you can wash them between uses so nothing is thrown away.

Ethical paint roller frames

First up are recycled and ethical paint roller frames. We love these! With a trio of sustainably sourced materials – ethical wood handle, recycled metal frame and recycled end caps – eco friendly roller frames are brilliant option for the ethical shopper. And they do a stunning job too!

Recycled roller sleeves

If you want to make a climate conscious choice without compromising on quality, recycled roller sleeves are your friends. Bringing a new lease of life to pre-used materials, this environmental take on the humble roller helps you reduce plastic waste, little by little.

Eco-friendly decorating materials

Eco paint brands

Is paint environmentally friendly? It certainly can be! And what’s more, there are plenty of vegan and cruelty-free options for the animal loving DIY aficionados among us.

When selecting an environmentally friendly paint brand you’ll want to take a look at the product’s VOC content and whether it’s water-based and therefore non-toxic. Our personal favourites are Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.

Eco wallpaper

15 billion trees are cut down each year and not all ethically. Unfortunately, many wallpapers come under fire for this. That’s why opting for FSC certified or, even better, eco-wallpapers are the way forward. This will ensure paper has been sourced and felled sustainably from managed forests across Europe.

Sustainability round-up

Time for some quickfire information to wrap things up. To make smart informed decisions you should consider the following points. Is the product:

• Vegan and/or cruelty free
• Recyclable
• Biodegradable or made from recycled materials
• Reusable
• Child and pet safe
• Non-toxic
• Packed in plastic free packaging
• Sourced from nearby countries (for reduced air miles)
• Manufactured by a B-Corp or cooperative

Creativity and sustainability go hand in hand

You heard it right! Creativity and sustainability thrive side by side. And one of the easiest ways to make this positive contribution is to switch out toxic, single use products with eco-friendly decorating materials and painting tools. Your home will look good – and you’ll feel great too!

There’s more where that came from! See more eco-friendly DIY tips across our decorating and design blog.