Edward Bulmer "Pots of Paint" Research and Competitors

Edward Bulmer "Pots of Paint"

Website http://www.potsofpaint.com

Notes

About them:

• Started as a project turning powder form Natural Paint into ready mixed paint
• Paint for Ceilings, Cornices, Panelling,Walls and Woodwork
• Developing paints for about 50 years 
• 50 Different Colours on the website
• Create their colours in the UK
• Paints are made from renewable materials of plant origin, animal origin and from minerals
• Paints do not generate CO2 emmissions 
• Lots of information 
• Where to buy: Online and Order by phone
• Prices: Sample £5.00, Colours From £30- £90.00 depending on size and type of paint
• Offer Hand Painted colour charts £10 and A4 Colour chart £50.00
• Pay by Paypal Only 
• Delivery: Shipping cost £10.00 Not enough information on how it is delivered
• Current Packaging: looks like it is traditional plastic or steel possibly 

Questions to ask about is:

• Packing 
• Transport 
• Target Audience

Competitors

Little Greene

Website: http://www.littlegreene.com/

Notes

About them:

• Little Greene has been running since 1773 Longer than Edward Bulmer
• British Paint Manufacturer
• Produces high quality paint and Wallpapers
• Roughly 200 different colours
• Prices of paint £17- £90.00 depending on sizes and the type of paint, Samples are £3.95
• 11 different types of paints
• Offer Water-based paints, Oil based paint that have been reformulated using vegetable oil, wallpapers that come from a tree another four is planted the pigments used to print are non toxic and contain no solvent
• Delivery: deleivered by a courier at your door step, dispatch within 24 hours, standard delivery is free, express delivery is £4.50, express delivery over £100 is free, deliveries are made between 8am - 6pm
• videos/blog on the website
• Packaging: Tins are made from 50% recycled steel and can be recycled again.

Marston and Langinge

Notes

About them:

• Glass Garden Rooms, Paint, Collections (Furniture and Blinds to order)
• Where to buy from: they have stores in UK, possibly order by phone
• 84 colours, £ different finishes
• Paints suitable for Wood, Stone, Walls exterior and interior
• Paints avalable in 2.5L/5L 

Farrow & Ball

Website: http://www.farrow-ball.com

Notes 

About them:

• Wallpapers and Paints
• Have over 40 showroom
• Water based paints and wallpapers printed on to FCS assured papers
• Eco-friendly paints with low or minimal VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
• Paints gives off low odour and quick drying time
• Oil paints are no longer available
• Over 132 colours
• Colour talks and Events
• Advice menu
• Videos contain demonstrations and tips 
• Cost sample £3.95, 2.5L £34.50, 5L £61.00 not accurate 
• Packaging No information found

Auro

Website: http://www.auro.co.uk/

Notes 

About them:

• An internationally trusted eco-paint brand since 1983
• Products contain 99% natural raw materials
• Breathable paints
• Focus on Sustainability
• Oils and Fats used in their products are from controlled organic biological cultivation
• Offer: cleaning and wax care, preparation and tools, wood finishes, paint for interior walls & exterior 
• Cost: Tester £2.30, 2.5L £17.99, 5L £31.99, 10L £31.99
• Packaging: No Information found 

Task 03 Create Roughs for an Eco Paints Container

Task 3

Eco Paint Container

Research:

Coca-cola video

Interesting facts on what happens to every products that have been wrapped and why products need to be packaged. Majority of the waste wrappers and packaging are filling up the land fill sites in the UK. 

Coca cola has developed eco- friendly packing by reducing the amount of aluminium and plastic used. Coca Cola now uses 37 per cent of recycled glass for their glass bottles, and recycled aluminium cans and are increasing the use of recycled plastic in the coca cola bottles. By doing this they are reducing 97 percent of energy needed to manufacture for raw non renewable sources.

Eco- friendly packaging is now becoming more popular in our local supermarkets and now it is more encouraged for Designer to produce packaging that is eco- friendly. 

Normal Paint

Paints are classified into two catergories:

Oil based- is a solvent based paint made from linseed oil, petroleum, alcohols, ketones and gycol ethers. While applying this form it reacts to sunlight and releases VOC’s it also does the same while it dries. It pollutes the atmosphere therefore it harms the environment and us humans.

Water based- also known as latex paint, an alternative to solvent based paints. This form of paint releases less VOC’s and is recommended.

Eco /natural paint

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/09/eco-natural-paints-guide-best

Eco paints are always improving ever since the effects of traditional paints been observed.

Natural paints are free of petrochemical ingredients and biodegradable. Unlike the traditional latex paints natural paint release zero VOC’s.  This is made from raw materials like clay, chalk, marble earth and mineral pigments. There are many different natural paint for example, Lime paint and Casein (milk) paint.

Natural paint relies on the inherent qualities of natural ingredients that can be used as binders (such as casein, a protein glue), fillers (such as marble, which provides opacity and whiteness), and pigments (such as earth pigments that derive natural color from their mineral content). A variety of different unique natural paint types exist, and include clay paint, milk paint, and lime paint. Most natural paints, including the entire line of paints by Unearthed Paints, are 100% zero-VOC and safe to use while pregnant.

Eco Packaging Ideas for Little Greene 

Task 02 Sustainable Design/Packaging Related

Task 02 Sustainable Design/Packaging Related

Topic: Vegetable Ink Printing



Traditional Ink Printing is petroleum based as it contains dangerous chemicals which can be harmful to the human health and cause environmental pollution.The petroleum based ink is also used with alcohol based solvents which speeds the drying process, allowing documents to be printed in time. An obvious disadvantage of Traditional Ink Printing is that it is more difficult to de-ink when recycled, therefore it results in toxic waste. The main problem with normal ink printing is as the petroleum and alcohol evaporate Volatile Organic Compounds, this then reacts with nitrogen oxides in sunlight to create pollution in to the atmosphere. It releases up to 30% VOCs. 

I have already previously covered the importance of crude oil where petroleum comes from it is an non renewable source and we will run out of oil some day. Hence, why we need start looking for other possible options.

Vegetable Ink Printing is the solution to VOC's as it is an environmentally friendly alternative. This is made from a variety of vegetable oils like corn, walnut, coconut, canola and soy bean. The advantage of using Vegetable based inks is that it comes from renewable sources . It is also easier to recycle when we de-inking from paper and it is a less hazardous. The only disadvantage is that it take longer to dry but release 2-4% Volatile Organic Compounds in to the atmosphere.

Vegetable inks are just as expensive as petroleum based ink.



HP Green Tips for those who have a printer at home 

Vegetable Ink printing covers the following points:

4. Design to enable the separation of components of the product/material or service product at the end of life in order to encourage recycling or reuse of materials and/or components.

5. Design to exclude the use of substances toxic or hazardous to human and other forms of

life at all stages of the product/material/service product's lifecycle.

7. Design to use locally available materials and resources wherever possible (thinking

globally but acting locally).

14. Design to create more sustainable products/materials/service products for a more

sustainable future.

Task 01: Global Warming & Climate Change

Task 01 Global Warming

In this task I will be expanding my knowledge based on the Oil Industry and how it causes Global Warming and Climate Change. 

Lately we have noticed a major change towards the atmosphere of our planet. The Earth is now hotter than it was ever before as the temperatures of the colder countries are rising and hot countries are getting colder.  We have already experienced many events that is claimed to be the result of Global Warming and Climate Change for example;

“Summer ice is melting 10 times faster in the Antarctic than it was 600 years ago, with the most rapid melt occurring in the past 50 years.”  Daily Mail 15^th April 2013.

Europe floods, Hungary Danube set for record high “the water level is already above the highest level ever measured," PM Viktor Orban, BBC news 7^th June 2013.

“In 2005, at least 1,300 people died as a result of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the U.S.” World Resources Institute.

These types of events are now happening in many parts of the world. The main cause of these terrible events is 95% related to Human Activity. This is portrayed in the film “The Age of Stupid” that us human have been causing Global Warming and Climate Change.

We are always taking advantage of our natural sources without giving anything back to the Earth. To gain these natural sources several countries have been to war for animals, water, shiny things, and people for cheap energy which was slavery, this was the key element until oil was discovered.

Throughout our daily lives we consume a huge amount of oil, even when we are aware of the fact burning natural fuels causes’ pollution.  Yet, we are still burn fossil fuels and oil without realising.

The Oil Industry became huge business in the 19^th Century as it changed our lifestyles. The Iron and Steel Industry got together constructed new materials and created railroad’s to connect to other countries to provide this new source of fuel. This was the beginning of the Oil Industry. Within the 19^th Century oil companies grew and became the dominant fuel of the 20^th Century.

Most countries now depend on oil and will go to great lengths to get hold of oil. USA, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, China, UK and Japan heavily depend on oil.

These countries consume a huge amount of oil every day. Millions of barrels are constantly being distributed to these countries as it is always on demand. The Biggest oil producers are the Middle East, Europe, Eurasia and North America were big oil producers as well. However, Europe and U.S no longer produce enough oil; therefore oil is being exported from the Middle East.

By looking at the amount we are consuming every day in the UK and U.S there might a real danger of us reaching peak oil. Eventually we will run out of oil, since crude oil was a process of mass extinction of dinosaurs and other ancient creatures making it a nonrenewable resource­. 

Since oil has always been on demand and now in 2013 there is a possibility that we may be over peak as it explains in the film “The End of Suburbia”.  However, we can find solutions and save ourselves from a full-blown Global Warming and Climate chaos.

Over the past few years we have noticed an increase in price especially, higher prices for all forms of travel, an increase in food prices, general retail price and Utility bills for heating and power. Oil plays a huge role in all these areas therefore it is important for us to start searching for alternatives.

If we hope to maintain a stable climate and global warming, the government needs to do something about the issues that are now rising and so does the public. The world no longer can afford to burn oil any more.

For example, to prevent using public transport and cars we can make everything a bit more local, so it’s more of a walking distance. 

The End Suburbia - Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream