Auro 321 White Emulsion Paint Full Review
Posted: 12 May 2008 by Mark Harris
Auro has long been one of the most environmentally aware paint manufacturers, and you can buy any of its products certain that no petrochemicals or synthetic materials have found their way into the pot (except for a tiny trace of lead-free drier). This white matte emulsion paint is formulated on a base of linseed and other natural oils, much of it grown organically and locally to the German factory. It gives a so-called 'resin' finish that's micro-porous for breathability and is claimed to give increased resistance to flaking and blistering.
Typical of the carbon-neutral manufacturer -- it was accredited in Germany in 2007 -- this paint is so natural it can be safely composted, as long as you don't mind your tomatoes coming up white (you never know). While the formula does use titanium dioxide to add brilliance, the proportion in this paint is less than some of its other formulations, such as 322, intended for high-traffic areas like schools. This means that although it's washable, the 321 paint is not really scrubbable.
Another nice touch is that Auro has included rosemary and eucalyptus oils in the formulations, giving the unavoidable 'new paint' smell a sweet, sharp, herbal tang. This is quite intense at first but soon fades. Of all the paints we trialed, the 321 paint was the closest to normal paint in consistency, balancing a reassuring, non-drip thickness with very easy, natural application. There was very little splatter or running.
Once dry (about two hours to touch), the paint gave excellent coverage of painted and untreated wood, and the white colour was pristine. But despite its claim to resist flaking, this paint showed very slight flaking on painted wood. Predictably, then, the Auro didn't shine in our abrasion test, showing some flaking when attacked with a scraper. But it excelled in our test for water-fastness, barely fading at all when rubbed vigorously with a damp sponge.
Two coats of the Auro paint with an abrasion test on the right (40 light scrapes with a paint scraper) and a water test on the left (20 rubs with a damp sponge)
The other practical plus for us is the price. It's just £32 for five litres, or £18 for 2.5 litres, which is excellent value in our book, especially considering what you're getting for your money.
The German factory making Auro paints uses solar and wind power, and harvests rainwater for cleaning. We're told the company visits regularly, describing the factory as comfortable and full of happy workers. On top of that, all Auro packaging is recycled and recyclable, and filling material is made from compostable biofill materials. Auro supports TreeAid and Common Ground charities, which we're very happy to see. A truly classy product.
Quality
Value
Ethics
Green
