Color Buzz

Paint for a Better Planet – Tips to Make Painting Projects More Eco-Friendly

Photo Courtesy of Real Simple

Happy Earth Day! In honor of the 40th Anniversary of this celebrated day, we’re sharing our favorite tips for making the painting process more eco-friendly from start to finish. Going back to basics with the “3 R’s” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – can not only make projects more environmentally conscious, but more simple and creative as well. We hope this post inspires you to color (and protect!) your world.

Reduce:
-Use low VOC paint, such as Valspar Signature Colors or Ultra Premium
-Calculate the right quantities with a paint calculator
-Donate leftover paint to a friend or neighbor with a project or arrange a neighborhood/community paint exchange

Reuse:
-Remove the paint can label and clean out inside of can; the outside can be decorated with leftover paint colors and used for storing office supplies, arts and crafts supplies, a flower pot, coins, small toys and more! Click here for a DIY project using a paint can and chalkboard paint!
-Rather than shopping for new furniture, visit local flea markets or thrift stores for vintage gems-- a quick coat of paint can bring new life to a secondhand piece and is often easier on the wallet!

Recycle:
-Paint cans should be thoroughly cleaned and dried before recycling; metal cans are recyclable, but check with your local hauler about plastic cans
-Visit Earth911.com to find recycling center

Color Buzz Helps: A Brush With Kindness

by Michèle Coppin

I recently discovered a Minneapolis neighborhood that was being transformed. The atmosphere of renewal was so impressive that I wanted to get involved. Volunteering with a team from A Brush With Kindness (ABWK), we worked on an old home in St. Paul, Minnesota in need of some TLC--and tender loving care is exactly what it received.