Paint
The colors selected for the office reflect a strong neutral palette with accent colors found in the doors, furniture, and workspaces.
Walls, ceilings, and some metal surfaces are treated with paint donated by ICI Paints North America. ICI reformulated their product so it was free of volatile organic compounds, going beyond what regulations require. They acted proactively, and not in response to legislation, because they thought it was the right thing to do.
Accents in WRI's lunchroom are done with milk paint -- a durable, long-lasting paint made from milk protein, clay, earth pigments and lime -- created by the Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company. Though it has a long history of use dating back to the time of the ancient cave painters, milk paint is a rarity these days. It is not sold at most hardware stores, and although it qualifies as a paint with no toxic ingredients or fumes, milk paint is still used mainly by decorators, furniture restorers and history buffs.
The zero-volatile organic compound (VOC) clear wood finish used throughout the office is made from polymerized linseed oil and beeswax from tried and true.
Environmental products and services: Sources and contributors
An asterisk indicates suppliers who contributed products or services.
- * ICI Paints, North America
- Wall, ceiling, and door frame paint
- 925 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 (216/344-8191)
