Better for you, better for the planet: How to choose and use our oils, mediums and varnishes sustainably
Our wide range of traditional oils, mediums and varnishes are brilliant at helping artists experiment with texture and finishes, control colour and protect their work. But they can be tricky to handle; some have odours that can take over an environment. As chemicals they must be handled with care, and packaging them safely and sustainably can be a challenge. But we’re doing everything we can to improve the impact of all our mediums on the planet including the reduction of unnecessary packaging.
Finding the magic in what mediums and varnishes can do while staying safe
- Open windows and doors ensuring good air circulation.
- Store all materials tightly capped when not in use.
- Don’t expose artists’ materials to naked flames or excessive heat sources.
Safely dispose of products after use
To be effective, our oils, mediums and varnishes must contain solvents and heavy metals which can be toxic, so they must be disposed of responsibly. Make sure to have a good clean-up routine and disposal system that is as ethically responsible as possible – as little as possible should go down the sink.
Solvents – including rags that have been soaked in oils, mediums or varnishes – constitute hazardous waste. In some cases, your local council will be able to collect the waste from you (although there may be a charge for this). Alternatively, you may be able to deliver it to a household recycling or civic amenity site, free of charge. If you’re unsure, ask your local council for advice. It’s also worth thinking about how you dispose of your old oily rags. Many artists keep an airtight metal container handy to keep oily rags safely stored. These can then be transferred to an airtight sealed plastic bag for disposal.
Learn to love labels
It might sound obvious, but if you want to understand the materials you are using and how they may affect you, you should read the label.
Some of our products display the Approved Product (AP) symbol. This means the materials have been certified by a toxicologist and are safe because they don’t contain any materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or pose any threat to human health. Some products have a Cautionary Label (CL). This means they are safe if they are used by artists that follow safety precautions for that particular material.
Many of our oils, mediums and varnishes simply have a pictogram and single word on their labels. For all of our products with these symbols, we provide a safety data sheet which you can download from our website.
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