Dulux and Nooku partner to highlight impact eco friendly paint has on indoor air quality

AkzoNobel has announced a new partnership between Dulux and nooku, the indoor air quality monitor, to showcase the measurable benefits of choosing water based and low VOC paints, such as Dulux Trade Diamond Matt 99.9% VOC Free Emulsion, Dulux Easycare Kitchen and Dulux Walls and Ceilings ranges, on indoor air quality. 

AkzoNobel, maker of Dulux, has been reducing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in its paints for years – whether in wall paints, trims, or metal finishes. Traditionally, this has centered on replacing solvent based systems with advanced water based formulations. For example, Dulux Quick Dry paints deliver the same durable, high quality finish as oil based options, but with a much lower carbon footprint and VOC content.

Recently, the company has gone even further. It has introduced 99.9% VOC free technology into its most popular ranges, including Dulux Walls & Ceilings and Dulux Easycare Kitchens, as well as Dulux Trade Supermatt, Vinyl Matt, Diamond Matt, and the new Spray Matt. This can help reduce the embodied carbon footprint of these products, when compared to their prior recipes, while more durable finishes can often support lifecycle carbon footprint savings by extending decorative maintenance cycles. 

The 99.9% VOC free technology helps products meet leading green building standards. Now through the partnership with nooku, homeowners and professional specifiers can easily see the benefits of this low emission technology, helping them to create healthier and more sustainable spaces. 

Developed alongside leading air quality scientists, nooku indoor air quality monitors make the invisible visible. Providing real time feedback on the quality of the air, from ‘great’ to ‘poor’ and ‘bad’, the monitors track VOCs, humidity, temperature, CO2 and other airborne pollutants, revealing exactly what is in the air around you. This partnership with Dulux allows users to see the benefits of using low VOC and water based decorating products as you paint. 

The air you breathe has a profound effect on your health and development, so it is crucial to ensure you are taking the steps necessary to optimise air quality. Indoor air quality can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air as VOCs released from the likes of decorating products and other pollutants can become trapped and linger in these environments. High VOC paints release chemicals that pollute indoor air and can cause headaches, respiratory issues, and long term health risks. That is why eliminating pollutants at the source matters – it helps create a healthier home throughout the decorating process. 

Peter Howard, Dulux UK and Ireland sustainability and regulatory lead at AkzoNobel, commented: ‘Reducing our environmental impact and improving people’s lives is central to our goals at AkzoNobel. The risks of indoor air quality are less well known compared to outdoor air, but they are equally important to consider, especially as we spend most of our time indoors, whether that is at our workplace, school, or home. 

‘Our partnership with nooku helps to visually show what otherwise is unseen in the air around us when painting and the direct impacts different paint technologies can have in real time. Although the pollution impact of VOCs from paint is very small, it still contributes to indoor air pollution and climate change. The reformulation of our paint ranges to be water based and 99.9% VOC free exemplifies our ongoing efforts to create innovative solutions that encourage sustainability without compromising quality.’

Danny Kane, co-founder and director at nooku, commented: ‘Working with Dulux allows us to pair its expertise in colour and sustainable paint with nooku’s focus on indoor air quality, creating a more holistic approach to healthier living spaces. By bringing together Dulux’s sustainable, low VOC and water based paints with nooku’s innovative air quality technology, we are giving homeowners and professional decorators a way to create spaces that look beautiful and feel better to breathe in.’

Products in the Dulux Trade Quick Dry Satinwood range are water based, reducing drying time for metal and wood trims by over 75% compared to solvent based products. This ensures normal indoor air quality levels are restored quicker and maintained for longer compared to traditional trim paints. The nooku device provided better readings in the three hour dry time when compared to other solvent based satinwood paints. 

As well as this, nooku readings when using Dulux Trade Diamond Matt 99.9% VOC Free Emulsion compared to standard durable trade emulsion stayed significantly and consistently lower at ‘good’ levels instead of fluctuating to ‘poor’ and ‘bad’ readings while drying. The formula of these products makes it safer for the long term health of decorators, homeowners, and the planet without compromising on a high quality finish.