Eco-label makes environmentally friendly choices easier

Saudi Arabia-based Sigma Paints has launched a new label across a wide range of its products allowing contractors and end-users the choice of earth-friendly products which simultaneously offer top-of-the-range results.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gasses present in chemical substances both natural and synthetic which evaporate into the atmosphere at normal temperatures and/or when exposed to air.

They are known to have an influence on the greenhouse effect contributing to changes in the atmosphere and, in humans, the colourless gas they release can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and respiratory system.

Worldwide there are various systems in place to deal with VOCs and other green issues such as The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) which provides a set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction, including what level of VOC is considered environmentally acceptable. Since its inception in 1998, LEED has grown to encompass more than 14,000 projects in the US and 30 countries worldwide.

The European Green Building Programme standard, though voluntary, is even more stringent requiring even lower percentages and both are independently monitored.

The international Master Painters Institute also has its own green performance standards and a list of banned chemicals.

Though there are currently no environmental rules in place in the Middle East region, various countries are looking at green building issues and, since Sigma is a company which takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously, it has decided to introduce its own eco protection standard with this label which will indicate to architects, designers, contractors and end-users that these products comply to all the recognised VOC standards and worldwide legislation.

Marketing manager Antoine Lejuez, who was responsible for implementation of VOC compliant products across the company’s division in France, Spain, Italy and Greece before coming to the Middle East last year, explained: “We are looking to sustainability and green products. Our company has a long history of producing environmentally-sound products, even before it was trendy to do so.

“Sigma today can lead the way towards green thinking in a broader spectrum in the construction field and become a role model in this region.

“We are achieving success by incorporating green values into the entire process from the laboratory through to production and use and throughout the human side of our operation from the grass roots workers to management’s responsible and caring attitude.

“Using greener products is something people can do every day and this is becoming a very trendy process which, because of our European roots and and the work that has been done there we are in an ideal position to promote.”

In order to comply with the European standards Sigma needed to reformulate all its products without compromising their visual colour standards which was a long process taking around five years of extensive research and development bringing in new raw materials and working both in the laboratory and with end-users to bring the VOC content of many of its lines to below the European standard.

Lejuez added: “The label is on various products from primers and fillers to flat finishes and textures for both inside and outside.

“The products can be produced in any colour the customer desires and they can be confident that what they are choosing is compliant with the highest environmental standards, in fact we go even further than the legislation requires us to.

“At a glance you can see on the logo the blue of the sea and the green of the earth and it provides concise and simple wording which explains its environmental credentials.

“These are products that are already available but the logo will allow easy identification so that our customers can do their bit for the environment at the same time as getting beautiful flawless finishes in their decorative projects.”