BEYOND COLOUR – BEYOND AESTHETICS GRAPHENSTONE UK X CDW 2023 -STAND CO1/CONTRACT ZONE
BEYOND COLOUR – BEYOND AESTHETICS GRAPHENSTONE UK X CDW 2023 -STAND CO1/CONTRACT ZONE
This year, going beyond their commitment to change the narrative of coating specification Beyond Colour™, Graphenstone UK has teamed up with commercial futures colour expert Justine Fox, who’s eponymous studio posits a holistic approach to colour strategies within the built environment exploring Colour Beyond Aesthetics.
“Colour is at the heart of our human experience with the world. We need to take a holistic approach to the built environment, being consciously invested in people and the planet through innovative colour strategies and materials.” Justine Fox, Founder Studio Justine Fox & Graphenstone UK’s Built Environment Brand Ambassador
Colour trends and cost have been at the forefront of the conversation around coatings in the commercial interior design and architectural industries for many years, and to a large extent when it comes to contractors making the final purchasing decisions, they still are.
However, with over 1.9 million tonnes* of microplastics from paint ending up in our oceans yearly, accounting for 58% of all microplastics and the UK commitment to net zero by 2050 lagging, it is time to redress the balance. We can shift how we specify and buy into a more planet and people focused approach that is also economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.
Graphenstone paints contains only trace elements of plastic, none of which impact our waters. Its products are independently certified as having one of the world’s lowest profiles on CO2(e) and it can demonstrate significant CO2 absorption as part of its curing process. This positively contributes to savings in CO2(e) tonnage, offering a meaningful solution for companies striving to reach important ESG goals. Putting this in simple terms, a 15-litre tub of Ambient Pro+ will absorb approx. 5kg of CO2 (during the curing phase/the majority in the first 30 days of curing). On larger paint projects, this can result in significant carbon savings.
When building longevity into our environments, we have a responsibility in terms of future-proofing the structures themselves, taking into account the wider health and wellbeing of the people who live and work in these places and ultimately in our role as custodians, when it comes to protecting the planet. The need for this has never been greater.
In the past, one of the barriers to the inclusion of paints containing no fossil-fuel base ingredient was the need for longevity, in terms of performance and durability.
Graphene – an extraordinary 21st Century discovery, ensures that Graphenstone now takes eco-coatings to the next level with its unique strength, elasticity and flexibility. This material, discovered by Prof Andre Geim and Prof Kostya Novoselov at The University of Manchester 19 years ago won them the Nobel Prize in Physics, opening multiple industry opportunities to radically change how we build and design in our world for the better.
Integral to the structure of Graphenstone’s coatings and paints, this unique innovation uses nanotechnology to enhance thermal conductivity, uniformity and importantly, durability extending maintenance cycles and ultimately lowering long-term costs.
Recently published research conducted by Oxford, Beijing and Imperial colleges over an 11-year period of 500,000 adults in the UK, found what appears to be a correlation between air pollution and incidents of poor mental health* and UK anxiety levels are back on the rise.
The devolved governments of the UK see poor air quality as “the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK”**, amending and bringing new legislation to address this serious issue and its impact on people, our natural surroundings and the economy.
In contrast to the extreme toxicity of typical synthetic paints, Graphenstone's modern, sustainable option helps improve indoor and outdoor quality. Highly breathable, Graphenstone’s Ambient Pro+ has photocatalytic capabilities offering air-purification benefits, removing toxins like NOx, SOx and other harmful gasses, for many years after application.
In line with the World Health Organization’s three pillars of sustainability, this partnership marries innovative ideas around the use of colour to positively affect environmental performance, engage people in co-creation, enhance a sense of wellbeing and bring tangible social value.
Graphenstone’s pigment-packed formulations and extensive colour range beyond their collection colour card support nuanced and targeted colour propositions that make a real difference to how we can augment people’s experience in the built environment. Big ideas need the infrastructure in place to deliver them. Graphenstone’s tinting capabilities, mean that the detail in colour specification on large scale public and commercial projects can always be achieved.
“For those corporations and businesses looking to make legitimate, impactful and sustainable procurement decisions when it comes to interior and exterior coatings, Graphenstone is fast becoming the credible and trusted go-to. We have seen diseases such as asthma, COPD, and even mortality rates increase in recent years as pollution in many cities continues to rise. As the conversation around climate change, carbon emissions and our footprint becomes ever more important, a simple switch to Graphenstone products can make a tangible difference to air quality when used at scale.” Patrick Folkes, Founder Graphenstone UK
Graphenstone UK is based in Norfolk.
www.graphenstone-eco paints.store