How can a paint not be vegan?

Many of us put a lot of thought into the food we buy and the clothes we wear, and take care to make informed choices. Have you ever thought, though, about the paint you are using in your home and what goes into it? You may be surprised to learn that some paint contains animal byproducts, so does not count as vegan – and sometimes it is not ethically produced, either.

The issue with commercial paints

If you are looking for the perfect vegan paint, you may come up against one of two problems. A lot of commercially produced paint contains either casein, which is a milk protein used as a binder, or beeswax, another non-vegan binding agent. Artists’ watercolours and other specialist paints may also contain other animal ingredients, such as shellac and ox gall. As well as the minefield of ingredients, paint may still not pass the ‘ethical’ test – either components or the paint itself may have been tested on animals.

Misleading labels

Labelling can be misleading, as well – products labelled ‘eco-friendly’ or even ‘natural and organic’ may not be vegan-friendly. Some manufacturers may produce ranges in which only certain colours are vegan, so if you are not sure about a specific product, contact the company directly for more information.

Little Knights paint is completely vegan friendly

Here at Little Knights, we use only plant-based binding ingredients and never test on animals so our entire range is proudly vegan. It also contains zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds, or the harmful chemical which cause that ‘new paint’ smell). That means it is not only easy and pleasant to use, but also ethical and safe for all members of the house from pets to children.