Ronseal Eco Floor Varnish Review

Typical price:

£37

We like:

Lower levels of VOCs and fossil fuels; the good varnishing performance; partnership with the Woodland Trust

We don't like:

Lack of response to our questionnaire; it still contains VOCs and petrochemicals; overly complicated charity redemption

SmartPlanet judgement:

Ronseal's Eco range is a welcome arrival, with some recycled packaging, reduced reliance on fossil fuels and lower levels of potentially harmful VOCs. But we'd like to see more openness from Ronseal about its overall environmental policies before being certain there isn't any greenwash mixed in with this perfectly usable floor varnish.

Score:

Contact:

Nice Car Company at http://www.ronseal.co.uk/
Telephone: +44 (0)114 240 9469

Ronseal's new Eco range of household coverings and treatments, including wood preservatives, garden furniture oil and this floor varnish, fit neatly into a bigger trend in the DIY industry: to make traditional products with less of an environmental impact and improved sustainability.

Ronseal's Eco Floor Varnish (available in gloss and satin finishes) uses 30 per cent less petrochemicals than Ronseal's equivalent traditional varnish, substituting a non-GMO castor-oil-based resin. As well as using sustainable resources, the resin production process uses less energy, though these savings aren't quantified. The Eco Floor Varnish just sneaks into the low category (0.3-7.99 per cent) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), containing just seven per cent.

VOCs -- essentially indoor air pollutants -- have been linked to human health problems and may help produce hazardous low-level ozone. Ronseal's traditional varnish (priced about £5 lower) has medium levels of VOC (8-24.99 per cent), so it's good to see an improvement in the Eco range. Compared to other floor varnishes, Ronseal's stacks up price-wise. Most are around the same price, and some are even £40+ without the eco improvements.

Another plus is that the Eco Floor Varnish comes in a steel tin made from 40 per cent recycled materials, and Ronseal also claims to donate £5 to the Woodland Trust every time someone buys something from its Eco range, enabling the charity to plant a native tree. This offer was not marked on our tin, however, and it requires a lengthy registration process online. Ronseal also declined to fill out our environmental assessment form, which we weren't too happy about.

But the varnish itself handled very much like a traditional one. There was only a faint 'solvent' aroma, consistency was good and it applied evenly and without excessive dripping. Like most varnishes, you'll need several coats (and a sanding before the last one) to get the best results. The final results were clear and tough, though we can't tell you how good Ronseal's claim of not yellowing with age is. Finally, brushes cleaned easily with just water and detergent.

All things considered, this varnish is definitely easier on the environment -- and for your indoor air quality -- than traditional ones. It's done a fairly admirable job of greening up, but it also could do much, much more.

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