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An Apartment Therapy report, published in partnership with paint maker BEHR, explains why VOC content, chemical emissions and odor are separate measures when comparing interior paints. It recommends checking independent emissions certifications as well as the paint label, and considering primer, coverage needs and room conditions.
Apartment Therapy has published a guide to choosing lower-emission interior paint, explaining how to compare VOC labels, emissions certifications and product performance. The report was produced in partnership with BEHR and draws on comments from Greg Williams, the company’s director of sustainability; its recommendations include checking the primer as well as the topcoat.
The guide defines volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as compounds that can evaporate into the air during painting and as paint dries. VOC content is one factor in indoor air quality, but the report cautions that a paint’s VOC level, chemical emissions and odor are related but distinct measures. A zero-VOC label does not mean a product releases no chemicals as it dries, and a mild smell does not establish that a paint is low in VOCs.
Williams advises shoppers to look beyond a single number. The article points to GREENGUARD Gold certification as an independent test of chemical emissions, while noting that certification and VOC content describe different product attributes. It also discusses BEHR products as examples: the company says several of its interior paints are low VOC and GREENGUARD Gold certified, while some are marketed as zero VOC. Those product descriptions come from the manufacturer and are not an independent comparison of all paints on the market.
The report says a lower VOC formulation does not automatically mean weaker coverage or durability. Williams says performance depends on factors including pigments, resins, paint base, wall condition and application, rather than VOC level alone. The article also urges homeowners to match the primer to the wall’s needs—such as stains or adhesion—and to consider its VOC and emissions attributes if those influenced the topcoat choice.
What Paint Labels Tell Homeowners
For homeowners, the practical point is that “zero VOC” is not a complete measure of indoor emissions. Choosing paint for a bedroom or another frequently used room may involve checking several kinds of information: VOC content, third-party emissions certification, odor guidance and the manufacturer’s directions for application and drying. These labels can help narrow options, but they do not mean every product with the same label has identical ingredients or performance.
The primer matters because it is another coating applied to the room. A low-VOC or certified topcoat does not, by itself, describe the primer’s emissions or odor. Shoppers also need to weigh the job: a wall with heavy stains may need a different primer from a clean wall, and product performance claims should be checked against the surface and intended use. The guide offers a framework for asking those questions, not a universal ranking or a guarantee of health outcomes.
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VOC Content Versus Air Emissions
The source report is a consumer product guide, not a regulatory announcement or an independent laboratory review. Its discussion centers on terms that appear on paint labels and on statements from a sustainability executive at the company whose products are featured. It describes VOCs as compounds that may enter indoor air as paint is applied and dries, and distinguishes a formula’s VOC content from measurements of what it emits.
Apartment Therapy lists BEHR products and certifications as examples, including paints it says are below 50 grams per liter in VOC content and a primer it describes as below 5 grams per liter. These figures and product characteristics are presented in the article as company information. The report also says BEHR ECOMIX contains at least 20% plant-based ingredients and is USDA-certified biobased; that claim concerns ingredient sourcing and does not, on its own, establish overall environmental impact.
Limits of the Product Comparisons
The report does not provide an independent, side-by-side test of the paints discussed, or a comparison with products from other manufacturers. The product details and performance descriptions are attributed to BEHR or its sustainability director, so readers should treat them as company claims rather than independent findings. The article does not specify how all listed certifications apply across every color, finish or product version.
It also does not set out a single definition that would make every “low VOC” or “zero VOC” claim directly comparable across brands. The source material does not quantify the health effects of using any specific paint, or show how indoor concentrations vary with room size, ventilation, application and drying conditions. No universal best paint can be identified from the report alone.
Check Labels Before Painting
Homeowners can use the guide’s approach at the point of purchase: read the product’s technical information, check whether an emissions certification applies to the specific paint, and confirm VOC details rather than relying on odor or a broad “eco-friendly” label. They should also identify whether the wall needs stain blocking, adhesion support or another primer function, then review that product’s information separately.
Before starting, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application, ventilation, protective equipment and drying time. The source does not announce a regulatory change or a scheduled follow-up report; it offers consumer guidance. Any broader claims about which products are safest or most sustainable would require comparable, independently sourced evidence beyond the information provided here.
Key Questions
Does zero-VOC paint mean it releases no chemicals?
No. The report says VOC content and chemical emissions are different measures. A zero-VOC label refers to the paint’s VOC content under the applicable specification; it does not mean the paint releases no chemicals as it dries.
Does low odor prove that a paint is low in VOCs?
No. According to Williams, odor and VOC content are not interchangeable. Check the product information and any emissions certification rather than judging by smell alone.
Can lower-VOC paint still provide good coverage?
The guide says VOC level alone does not determine coverage or durability. Wall condition, pigments, resins, paint base and application also affect the result; the report’s performance comments are attributed to BEHR’s sustainability director.
Should I check the primer as well as the paint?
Yes. The primer is another coating, and the report recommends matching it to the wall’s needs while reviewing its own VOC and emissions information.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
