According to World Health Organisation professional decorators are 40% more likely to contract lung cancer. Conventional paints continue to release nasty pollutants into the air long after they are first painted and we eat, sleep and live in these rooms surrounded by a chemical film. Also, the manufacturing of conventional paint can result in up to 30 litres of toxic waste per litre of paint produced!

The US Environmental Protection Agency rates paint within its top five environmental hazards.

Eco paints are different! Eco paints contain natural ingredients such as: talcum, clay, lime and plant extracts. They can be used for interiors as well as exteriors and on a variety of surfaces, including concrete, plaster, metal and wood.

What about durability?

Eco paints aren't the same as natural paints. Eco paint uses the latest technologies that have been developed over the last few years whereas natural paints are more crude and include paints such as lime wash and distemper. This is not to say some natural paints don't last, think of cave paintings!

Modern eco paints can last as long, if not longer, than conventional paint and works in harmony with the surfaces they cover. Allowing the surfaces to breath and moisture to escape while at the same time keeping moisture out.

What about cost?

Eco paints cost a little more than conventional paints but when you take into account the overall cost of decorating it doesn't add much.
For exterior painting on render, there is also the cost of removing the old paint as most eco masonry paints can't be applied over conventional paints. Though, this will not always cost more as it can actually save work. For example, a typical house will have a lot of loose paint even if you can't see it. This will need to be found and removed with a scraper. When the loose is removed it will leave an uneven surface, which then needs to be filled. Sometimes it's easier and quicker, to just remove the whole lot. This also has the added benefit of revealing the state of the masonry making it clear where repairs are needed.
There's a pattern in exterior decorating which is to remove the loose paint and then paint, then 2 -5 years later more old paint comes loose, which is under the new paint and the house is painted again. Then the new paint becomes old and the procedure is repeated. This isn't cost efficient in the long term whether it be with conventional or eco paints but with ego paints your forced to start again, afresh. By removing the old paint, you may not need to repaint for 15 years or more and yes that's with eco paints.

Give eco paint a go.