Label Lookup: Paint

When you're picking out paint to spruce up your home, how can you distinguish claims for healthier products from those that can't be counted on? Check out the list of claims below or in our iPhone app, available here. Learn what they mean, if there are standards behind them, and if and how they are verified.

or four leaves is the highest rating;
or zero leaves is the lowest and means the label has no meaning and is not reliable.

• Green Seal (more info) ↓

  

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified according to ISO Guide 65 Product Certification specs, addresses multiple issues, and meets science-based standards developed through a multi-stakeholder process.

  Description: Products must meet performance requirements and are prohibited from containing carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, air pollutants or ozone-depleting compounds. Green Seal also sets VOC limits of 50 grams per liter for flat topcoats and 100 grams per liter for primer and non-flat topcoats.

  Certified products: Find Green Seal certified paint

  Issues addressed by this claim: Whether product contains carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, air pollutants, ozone-depleting compounds, or VOCs above a certain level

  Verification process: Green Seal's standards have been reviewed by third parties and found to meet ISO 14020/14024 standards. Green SealÕs standard development procedures also meet the requirements for credible ecolabels from the following organizations: Consumer Union, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Trade Commission.

  Standards development process: Green Seal's standards were developed based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for environmental labeling programs, ISO 14020 and 14024 -- international standards for ecolabelling. The main components are that Green Seal's standards have a life cycle approach and are open, transparent, and include stakeholder input.

  Claims seen on these product types: Food, building products, cleaning, cosmetics / personal care, forest products / paper, household appliances, machinery and equipment, paints, tourism

  Managing organization: Green Seal

  Learn more: Green Seal

• Greenguard (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified by an independent organization, and standards are rigorous and well-established, though standards were not developed with broad stakeholder input.

  Description: Greenguard has certified that manufacturers have followed standard test methods to measure off-gassing from drying paint and found only trace levels of VOCs, including formaldehyde and styrene.

  Certified products: For Greenguard certified products

  Issues addressed by this claim: Whether product off-gases VOCs including formaldehyde and styrene

  Verification process: All products are tested in dynamic environmental chambers according to methods that follow guidance of ASTM Standards D-5116 and D-6670, the US Environmental Protection Agency's testing protocol for furniture, the state of Washington's protocol for interior furnishings and construction materials, Germany's Blue Angel Program, CaliforniaÕs Department of Public Health's Standard Practice for Specification Section 01350 and the ISO 16000 environmental testing series.

  Standards development process: Though Greenguard's standards are comparable to those created by governmental and other certification bodies, they were developed without broad stakeholder input.

  Claims seen on these product types: Interior and exterior paint

  Managing organization: Greenguard Environmental Institute

  Learn more: Greenguard Environmental Institute, Greener Choices

• Low VOC (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is first-party declared by the manufacturer as meeting the standards for VOCs set by California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).

  Description: VOCs are unstable compounds containing carbon and hydrogen that react in sunlight with nitrogen oxides in the air to create ground-level ozone or smog. Paint must emit less than 10 grams of VOCs per liter; under limits set under Rule 1113 by California's South Coast Air Quality Management District. Under limits set by California's SCAQMD Rule 1113, VOC limits are 100 grams per liter for flat paint and 150 grams per liter for non-flat paint.

  Certified products: Find Low VOC paint

  Issues addressed by this claim: Whether a product contains VOCs

  Verification process: Manufacturer informs SCAQMD that their product is Low VOC. The SCAQMD in no way endorses any company nor does it certify its ability to meet the requirements of Rule 1113 Architectural Coatings.

  Standards development process: Standard-setting process included broad stakeholder input.

  Claims seen on these product types: Interior and exterior paint

  Managing organization: California's South Coast Air Quality Management

  Learn more: California's South Coast Air Quality Management District, Greener Choices, Chemical Index

• No VOC (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is first-party declared by the manufacturer, though current tests are not entirely accurate.

  Description: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are unstable compounds containing carbon and hydrogen that react in sunlight with nitrogen oxides in the air to create ground-level ozone or smog. Paint must emit less than 5 grams of VOCs per liter, under limits set by the EPA

  Certified products:

  Issues addressed by this claim: Whether a product contains VOCs.

  Verification process: The marketer or manufacturer decides whether to use the claim.

  Standards development process: There are no standards for this term.

  Claims seen on these product types: Interior and exterior paint

  Managing organization: US EPA

  Learn more: Greener Choices, US EPA, Chemical Index

• Non-Toxic (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is not reliable; it is meaningless and not verified by an independent third party.

  Description: This is considered a general claim for which there is no government of official definition.

  Certified products:

  Issues addressed by this claim: Whether a product, substance, or chemical will cause adverse health effects

  Verification process: The marketer or manufacturer decides whether to use the claim.

  Standards development process: There are no standards for this term.

  Claims seen on these product types: Interior and exterior paint, personal care, wood cleaners, glass and metal cleaners, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, cosmetics / personal care

  Managing organization: None

  Learn more: Greener Choices

• Super-Compliant VOC (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is first-party declared by the manufacturer as being well below the standards for VOCs set by California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).

  Description: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are unstable compounds containing carbon and hydrogen that react in sunlight with nitrogen oxides in the air to create ground-level ozone or smog. Under limits set by California's SCAQMD Rule 1113, VOC limit for paint is 10 grams per liter.

  Certified products: Find Super Compliant VOC paint

  Issues addressed by this claim: Whether a product contains VOCs.

  Verification process: Manufacturer informs SCAQMD that their product is Super Compliant Low VOC. The SCAQMD in no way endorses any company nor does it certify its ability to meet the requirements of Rule 1113 Architectural Coatings.

  Standards development process: Standard setting process included broad stakeholder input

  Claims seen on these product types: Interior and exterior paint

  Managing organization: California's South Coast Air Quality Management District

  Learn more: California's South Coast Air Quality Management District, Greener Choices, Chemical Index

• Zero VOC (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is first-party declared by the manufacturer, though current tests are not entirely accurate.

  Description: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are unstable compounds containing carbon and hydrogen that react in sunlight with nitrogen oxides in the air to create ground-level ozone or smog. Paint must emit less than 5 grams of VOCs per liter; under limits set by the EPA.

  Certified products:

  Issues addressed by this claim: Whether a product contains VOCs.

  Verification process: The marketer or manufacturer decides whether to use the claim.

  Standards development process: There are no standards for this term.

  Claims seen on these product types: Interior and exterior paint

  Managing organization: US EPA

  Learn more: Greener Choices, US EPA, Chemical Index