High-traffic spaces like those typically found in schools, colleges, and other places of learning, require paints and coatings that are not only environmentally friendly but also durable and easy to maintain.

Assessing the sustainability of architectural products such as paints and surface coatings involves understanding their environmental impacts through all lifecycle stages, from the extraction of the raw materials used in their manufacture, to the manufacturing process itself, the transportation of the finished products, their installation, use, maintenance requirements, and end-of life management.

For some types of products, this lifecycle assessment includes checking whether they include volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Defined by Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) as “organic compound that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions”, can sometimes be found in common household products like aerosols, detergents, adhesives, and cosmetics, as well as building materials like carpets and furniture.

Thanks to factors like their capacity to achieve a smooth, even application and promote fast drying, VOCs are also found in some paints, stains, and coatings.

However, as DCCEEW also notes, they also have a significant downside. Depending on the VOC in question, their concentration, and the length of exposure, their negative effects on human health can include irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat; headaches; loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system.

On top of this, according to the DCCEEW, “some VOCs can cause cancer in animals, and some are suspected or are known to cause cancer in humans”.

The take-away from all of this is clear. VOCs are to be avoided and, when sourcing paints, stains, and coatings, specifiers should seek out low VOC options.

Educational applications

Applicable to all types of architectural work, this piece of advice is particularly pertinent in the case of educational projects. That said, what are the other key considerations in this type of work?

“In educational environments, paints and coatings must go beyond sustainability to meet the practical demands of durability, hygiene, safety, and cost-effectiveness,” says Tony Watling, CEO of Ecotone Coatings.

“Schools, universities, and other learning spaces experience heavy daily use and require surfaces that can withstand high traffic, frequent cleaning, and evolving health standards.”

According to Watling, the company’s latest low-VOC innovations, which are intended to enhance health, safety, aesthetics, and sustainability, address the unique challenges that schools and universities face.

For Ecotone Coatings, the focus is on two main product lines, its Internal Functional Coatings and Material Finishes.

“Our clear internal coatings are engineered to actively reduce odours, viruses, bacteria, and mould – even in low or no-light conditions – making them especially valuable in educational spaces where large numbers of students and staff gather, such as classrooms, corridors, and bathrooms,” says Watling.

Ecotone Coatings_Prefab Example - Carlaw Park Student Acc.jpg — **Ecotone Coatings Prefab Example - Carlaw Park Student Accomodation / Supplied.**

Developed using advanced Japanese technology and rigorously tested to meet high standards, these coatings significantly reduce the need for frequent, intensive cleaning or costly remediation.

“For example, our Clean and Protect Shield and Anti-Odour Coating has been successfully applied in the bathrooms at St Luke's Grammar School, where it has markedly cut odour issues and simplified cleaning routines,” says Watling.

Similar coatings have also been used to reduce the risk of viral transmission in other high-use internal environments, including the Flower Power HQ and a global toy brand’s corporate office. These applications not only improve comfort and wellbeing but also support facility managers in maintaining hygienic, safe spaces with less effort.

Meanwhile, Ecotone Coatings’ Material Finishes range offers a sustainable, efficient way to replicate the appearance of natural materials such as concrete, wood, metal, corten, and stone.

According to Watling, this ensures architects and designers have the flexibility to achieve high-end aesthetics while overcoming traditional material constraints like cost, weight, and fire safety.

“Together, these product lines demonstrate Ecotone’s commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable coatings that support healthier, safer, and more visually appealing educational environments,” says Watling.

By reducing maintenance needs, enhancing durability, and expanding design possibilities, these products help schools and universities create spaces that inspire learning while protecting occupants and the environment.

Ecotone Coatings_Material Finish Example - Macarthur Anglican.jpg — **Ecotone Coatings Material Finish Example - Macarthur Anglican College / Supplied.**

Environmental certification

According to Peter Lewis Paints, a natural paint company that manufactures and supplies paint products and special finishes derived from plant-based resins and natural pigments, specifiers wanting to know about VOC content should look for appropriately certified products. Without such documentation, they cannot be sure of what they are getting.

The company’s Natural Emulsion Eggshell, for example, is certified according to the requirements of Global Greentag.

The only supplier in Australia to make entirely sustainable paint products and special finishes derived from plant-based resins and natural pigments, Peter Lewis Paints offers products in a range of 275 colours.

These colours are made in four signature paint types: Natural Emulsion Eggshell, Natural Emulsion Dead Flat, Natural Emulsion Low Sheen, and Natural Emulsion Satin Trim.

Beyond this, Peter Lewis Paints also offer these colours in a range of completely natural and sustainable special finishes, including lime render, lime fresco, limewash and distemper. Importantly, all contain zero VOCs.

The company’s linseed oil paint is ground through a traditional roller mill, combining pigments and oils to create a paint that can penetrate through bare timber. Unlike water-based enamels, this characteristic inhibits the trapping of water and minimises the possibility of wood rot.

Meanwhile, the mineral silicate paint, which is formulated without any acrylic additive, has a natural curing that penetrates bare concrete, brick or masonry surfaces and crystallizes. In this way, it allows walls to let moisture out. As used at Scots College in Sydney, the result is a beautiful, soft appearance.

The role of colour

According to Dulux, a supplier with a long history of work within the sector, colour is another key factor to consider when specifying paints in educational projects. Beyond aesthetic appeal, colour has the capacity to influence thinking and emotions; to inspire creativity and help establish mood.

For example, cool blues and greens can promote focus and reduce anxiety, while warm tones can foster a welcoming and engaging environment.

In terms of products, Dulux recommends paints like its envirO₂ range. Premium acrylic products, which deliver in terms of both performance and ease of application, the range carries an independently verified and registered Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and has earned Global GreenTag and Declare Red List Free certifications.

As the company points out, this certification means envirO₂ may be used to achieve credits on green building projects such as GreenStar, WELL and Living Building Challenge (LBC).

Featuring very low levels of VOC, products in the range are also characterised by low levels of odour. In addition, envirO₂’s interior and ceiling formulations help prevent the growth of mould, which when present, can cause paint coatings to discolour and break down, and also potentially pose a health risk.

Available in a range that includes Preparation, Top Coat (Low Sheen and Matt), Ceiling and Door and Trim paints, the products have been tested for high levels of washability and stain resistance, all of which add to their suitability for application in educational settings.

Washability and stain resistance

Designed to withstand heavy traffic, Haymes Paint’s high performance Ultra Premium Interior paints are also characterised by their washability and superior stain resistance.

Ultra Premium Interior Expressions, for example, is a highly durable interior paint that provides great coverage. Apart from being 99% VOC free, it is easy to clean and allows most stains to be removed without leaving marks. Ideal for wet areas, it comes with a seven-year mould and mildew protection guarantee and is a low-odour, environmentally responsible product.

Products from Haymes Paint were used at Wesley College’s Clunes Campus (2).jpg — **Products from Haymes Paint were used at Wesley College’s Clunes Campus / Supplied.**

On top of this, the Expressions Interior range is Global GreenTag Certified and therefore meets high standards in terms of its effects on human health and safety, as well as its environmental impacts and ethical labour practices.

Haymes Paint Ultra Premium Ultraseal, Interior Expressions Low Sheen, and Interior Expressions Ceiling White – along with several other of the company’s interior and exterior paints – were used at Wesley College’s Clunes Campus, a facility that plays host to the college’s eight-week residential learning program for Year 9 students.

Completed by award-winning architectural firm Williams Boag, the revised campus features state-of-the-art facilities, including a woodwork workshop, industrial kitchen, vegetable gardens, communal spaces, and student accommodation.

Applied on the facility’s interior walls and ceilings, the Ultra Premium products combine the assurance of a low VOC, flat finish with superior durability, an absence of fumes and odours, and mould and mildew protection.

Main image: Products from Haymes Paint were used at Wesley College’s Clunes Campus / Supplied.

SUPPLIERS

Dulux Australia

Haymes Paint

Peter Lewis Paints

Ecotone Coatings

Matt McDonald

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