Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Inc., has introduced new zero-VOC colorants that will maintain interior air quality during application without sacrificing performance the company said. The transition from conventional universal colorants to the new zero VOC colorants has been completed in all of Kelly-Moore’s California and Nevada locations. The rest of Kelly-Moore’s stores will be completed by this summer.
 
“Kelly-Moore is committed to meeting top health and environmental concerns and California’s stringent regulations,” said Steve DeVoe, Kelly-Moore’s president, CEO and chairman of the board. “Transitioning to zero VOC colorants will keep the company at the forefront of environmental innovation and regulation in the paint industry.”
 
While zero-VOC colorants have been available previously, they often lacked in quality and performance—poor drying and more water sensitivity causing blushing and blistering were among the drawbacks. Kelly-Moore’s new zero VOC colorants not only eliminate these issues, but the company said exceed traditional colorants as well, offering higher strength, improved hiding, more fade resistance and expanded color options, all without the additional solvents.
 
“These next generation zero VOC colorants are not only better for the environment, they have better touch up properties than conventional colorants for the professional contractor, and also deliver better UV fade resistance for better long-term performance,” said Mark Zielinski, Kelly-Moore Paints’ vice president of sales.
 
Among Kelly-Moore’s other “green” offerings are the recently introduced Enviro Coat Reflective 1545, a premium exterior architectural coating designed to reflect the sun’s radiant heat. This eco-functional, exterior 100 percent acrylic eggshell paint lowers external wall temperature, allowing homeowners and building operators to minimize air conditioning usage and money on utility bills.
 
At Kelly-Moore, environmental impact has always been a top priority. In 1995, the company developed a safer, more environmentally responsible technique to dispose of leftover paint and became the first paint company in the industry to collect and remanufacture a quality recycled paint—eCoat. Since then, Kelly-Moore continues to invest in recycling technology.
 
The company’s environmentally friendly paint factory in San Carlos, Calif., is the recipient of four environmental awards and continues to “green” its operations. For instance, in April 2009, Kelly-Moore started a program to recycle Super Sack storage bags, cut up plastic totes and other previously unrecyclable containers, resulting in a 10-15 percent reduction in landfill waste. Additionally, Kelly-Moore’s factory management developed a collection system for rainwater to offset water usage and built a berm around the manufacturing plant to prevent any possible paint spillage from getting into the local creek.