Essentially Liquid Plastic is an environment-friendly alternative to acrylic paint. While acrylic is made from plastic, the production process is not as environmentally friendly as other materials. This is because acrylic is dependent on the petrochemical industry, which contributes to air pollution, water pollution, and land degradation. Furthermore, oil and gas transportation and production cause ocean acidification and global warming. Additionally, acrylic fabrics use a large amount of energy and heat, which contributes to air pollution. When manufacturing acrylic paint, many chemicals are used. The raw material for acrylic is crude oil, and the process for creating it is different for each type. Several chemicals, including a catalyst, begin the chemical reaction. Ultimately, a mixture of small molecules called monomers, such as methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate, react with a catalyst to form a new plastic substance.
Why I Love Acrylic Paint but Want to Ditch It
I was shocked! I’d used nearly a whole 500ml bottle of acrylic medium to make the structure of my artist’s book, The Pomegranate .
A friend of mine – previously tasked with getting supplies for me – says I have an acrylic medium addiction. But even by my standards, that’s a lot.
Why I started using acrylic paint
I resisted using acrylic paint for the longest time. The synthetic-sounding name put me off. I didn’t see myself as an acrylic sort of a girl.
But when I eventually tried acrylic paint in the early 2000’s, I found its quick drying time and opaque quality suited it my workflow perfectly. I like to be able to make mistakes and cover them easily. And I don’t have much patience for waiting for paint to dry.
So acrylic paint became an integral part of my creative process.
But I love our planet and my distress at climate change is growing.
The contradiction of using acrylic for my painting, Creative Fire
In 2013 I made a piece of artwork called Creative Fire . It was my response to the increasingly unbearable summers we were experiencing in Spain due to global warming.
It hasn’t escaped me how much of a contradiction this is. Acrylic paint is made from a synthetic resin binder called acrylic polymer emulsion. Basically liquid plastic!
So while I love the flexibility that acrylics gives my process, I recognise that the fast-drying nature of these synthetic materials is something I might have to sacrifice.
Compared to my other pieces, The Pomegranate is surprisingly heavy. Since it’s otherwise made of corrugated cardboard and tissue paper, the weight is mainly due to that 500ml of acrylic medium! I feel it as the weight of my ecological footprint.
Too deep a print by far.
If I make a similar piece to The Pomegranate in the future, I’ll use a cornstarch or methyl cellulose paste instead of acrylic medium. That’s not a difficult switch.
And I’ve already switched up using acrylic medium as a varnish for cold wax medium. (This one is approx 97% biodegradeable.)
But substituting acrylic paint in my workflow is a much bigger ask. There’s no doubt that it’s going to require not only some changes in my process but also a change in the look of the work.
Of course I know that my tiny consumption of acrylic paint doesn’t contribute to global pollution massively.
And I’m aware that a common practice among ‘environmentally concerned’ artists is to filter out the acrylic paint from the water. Then leave the left-over paint sludge to dry out before throwing it away. But this isn’t very practical for me as I’m often working while travelling. Plus it still begs the question of what’s going to happen to those plastic solids at the end.
(Throwing away the paint I already own without using it won’t make it much less polluting. So I’ll probably still be using acrylics for quite a while.)
But I believe in living according to my core values as far as possible. So I’m not happy with using so much of a material that has no place in our planet’s ecosystem.
Eco-Friendly Alternative To Acrylic Paint
If you’re looking for an Eco-Friendly Alternative to Acrylic Paint, you’ve come to the right place. Acrylic paint is notorious for producing waste, but there are alternatives. One such alternative is Natural Earth Paint. This company produces eco-friendly face paint, eco-friendly dyes, and non-toxic pigments. The company is a stockist at Eco Warehouse, which also sells a small variety of eco-friendly art supplies. Unlike acrylic paint, Natural Earth Paint contains no petroleum-based solvents, which can harm the environment. One reason to switch to an Eco-Friendly Alternative To Acrylic Paint is the fact that it contains heavy metals, which are toxic to aquatic life and not biodegradable. As a result, acrylic paint can be toxic to wildlife and the environment and pose a major risk to people’s health. Moreover, acrylic paint is extremely difficult to remove from surfaces and can be hard to clean up if it spills. You can also opt for biodegradable paint, but the government does not yet approve of this option.
Acrylic paint can be toxic to the environment if improperly disposed of. Not only can paint pollute water supplies, but it can also be dangerous to wildlife. In most cases, acrylic paint should be disposed of in its solid form. Oil paints have a shorter shelf life than acrylic, but they can be stored for future use. To preserve them, wrap them in plastic wrap or transfer them to a glass. There are a number of ways to clean your brushes and palette without using solvents. First, you can clean them with odorless mineral spirits or lemon zest. You can also try Gamblin’s Solvent-free Gel if these solutions are too strong. Next, it works well to dilute oil paint without traditional solvents. Finally, walnut oil is also an excellent solvent-free cleaner if you’re worried about the smell of turpentine. Second, oil paints are not safe for the environment. Oil paints contain cyclopentanone, which can cause eye irritation if improperly handled. Oil paints can also cause cancer by producing gases that are dangerous to living things. While oil paints are generally safe, they should never be used in places where they can be exposed to heat or extreme temperatures. Oil paints may be less toxic than acrylic paint, but it’s important to remember that oil paints are not more eco-friendly than acrylic paints.
Acrylic Polymer Emulsion
Styrene-acrylic polymer emulsions are common in water-based systems. A variety of specific properties demonstrates their versatility. The emulsion contains both acrylic acid esters, such as methyl and butyl acrylate. The former is a natural resin, while the latter is a polymer produced from a chemical reaction involving a fatty acid. Acrylic resin is biodegradable and has low toxicity ratings. Some paints are in medical implants, baby clothing, fleece, and some body care products. Plant oils are also energy-intensive to harvest and use. Plant oils such as soy and linseed are also problematic as wall paints. Natural soya and linseed resin are alternatives to acrylic paint, though these are not as effective as Pure Acrylic. Soybean polyols may also be an eco-friendly alternative. Soybeans are a huge business, and there is substantial funding available for research on soy-based resins. While the process of using soy polyols has several drawbacks, it may ultimately be a sustainable solution to acrylic paint. It may also improve the environment by lowering energy costs and improving production efficiency.
If you have recently painted a home, you may have been wondering if you should consider switching to acrylic paint. Unfortunately, acrylic paint is not biodegradable when it gets wet, but if it is disposed of correctly, it can degrade into water and air, improving air quality. This is because acrylic paint is comprised of small amounts of dissolved compounds. Luckily, there are ways to make acrylic paint biodegradable, including using water-based acrylic paint. Eco-friendly paints have lower levels of VOCs, are made from natural materials, and are less energy-intensive to produce. Because they use natural materials, biodegradable paints are often used for eco-friendly art projects. Eco-friendly art refers to works produced with a sustainable process that reduces environmental impact. These works often incorporate a variety of non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials. After painting, it is best to dispose of the empty paint bottle properly. Depending on its size and contents, it can be disposed of in a trash can or at a recycling facility. Some garbage companies may not pick up old paint. To ensure proper disposal, you should check the paint containers to make sure that the lids are tight. If you cannot find an appropriate recycling bin, you can always dispose of the empty paint can in the garbage.
Environmentally Friendly Art Supplies
The majority of typical art supplies aren’t great for the environment. Instead, consider using environmentally friendly supplies to make the most positive impact on the environment. These options reduce toxic materials in the art supplies and cut back on the earth’s resources. You can even find some that reduce carbon footprint. Sustainable art supplies include portfolios, paint, brushes, paper, and easels. Getting an eco-friendly alternative to acrylic paint is an important step in being a conscious artist. Another environmentally-friendly alternative to acrylic paint is to use an ecologically-friendly canvas. The Eco-Art Pad is a great option for rough sketches before you start painting on a canvas. It features 50 9×12 pages and is made of FSC-certified paper and soy ink. You can also upcycle almost anything and use it to paint on. You can even make your own eco-friendly paint by mixing a few different colors.
Consider using synthetic resin if you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to acrylic paint. This is a common paint binder and can be made of a variety of different materials. The most popular is epoxy, which is used for a variety of applications, from coatings and adhesives to craft materials. It also hardens, making it easy to clean and protect from moisture. Another environmentally-friendly option is fiberglass resin, which can be used for making repairs and sealing cracks. Traditionally, acrylic paint contains acrylic polymer resins. These plastics are used as binders to create the color, and when the paint dries, they emit various components. Propylene glycol and ammonia are particularly damaging to aquatic environments, which is why so many people prefer synthetic resins. However, these inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternatives may have adverse effects on waterways and other ecosystems.
