BUSINESS SUPPORT PAINT FROM PLANTS
V isitors to the Isle of Skye an earnest commitment from residents to maintain the pristine, rugged landscapes. And Alasdair Campbell, Owner and Founder of the Isle of Skye Paint Company, is making sure to do his part – with paint made from seaweed. “The reason we’re going down the plant- based route is simply for a better, more sustainable product will know just how splendid the Scottish island is. The natural beauty commands that we as a company can be proud of,” Campbell explains. “It has been my passion for a long time, a desire to do better. As we bear the name of our island on our company branding, we don’t want to be responsible for any negative connotations associated with Skye.” Unfortunately, the majority of companies operating in the painting and decorating sector mainly use acrylic and vinyl paint, but Campbell reveals that these are plastic-based and contain many harmful petrochemicals. Campbell, who is a decorator with more than two decades of experience, wanted to create a product he could use and recommend to clients with a clear conscience. He came up with a high-quality paint that is plant-based, water-based and plastic-free – and it seems that the sector was waiting for such an offering. “In the domestic market, the appetite for sustainable paints is growing,” Campbell says. “Consumers are examining the products they’re using: where it comes from, what it’s made of, what impact it has. And people’s appetite will only grow.” Benefits of plant paints On the question of performance, Campbell says: “Our paint gives superior coverage and durability, whilst the naturally occurring thickening and stabilising agents found in the organic seaweed, makes it easy to apply.
The type of paint used in projects could provide clients with an easy environmentally-friendly win COLOUR ME GREEN
“The paints are rigorously tested and will match the performance of any trade paint. I am very confident about this.” If Campbell’s confidence alone is not enough to persuade you of the paint’s performance, fellow FMB member Robert Wilson of Scottish-based Wilson Decorators is currently using the product and believes it is of a high quality. Improved performance Wilson says he received a batch of paint from the Isle of Skye Paint Company last year, but he wasn’t sold on its performance back then. “Not to get too technical, but it came in more of a gel form and when you put just a little bit of water into it, it took it away. “ So we gave them feedback and this is now a reincarnation of the product. And my guys are saying that this is better quality stuff, a definite improvement.” Wilson, who has been in the industry for more than two decades, shares a pertinent quote he read elsewhere: “What you put on your walls goes beyond mere decoration. It makes a statement about your commitment to sustainability and your concern for the environment.” Additionally, Wilson argues, “Eco-paints don’t trigger allergies and have little or no volatile organic compounds, which makes them cost-effective in the long run. Paint products with natural ingredients reduce risks to our health, homes and environment.” A willing advocate of Campbell’s plant-based paint, Wilson says it’s important to educate painters and the public about the effects of disposing of paint. “We’re washing it down the drain when we clean our brushes and rollers,” he says. “It’s going into the water system and causing pollution. We need to think about
our environment. We have to educate people to use better quality paint and to dispose of it better.”
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Master Builder
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