How wasteful are art supplies?

As a practising artist, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. How wasteful are my art supplies? Are they toxic? What are they made of? Are they affecting my health? What happens to the spent brushes, paints and containers when I’m done with them? As creative professionals, I want to be pro-active about the impacts of my practice and conduct myself accordingly for my own health and that of others and our planet. I have started reducing my consumption of art supplies, actively sourcing natural products and changing my practice. 

Most conventional art supplies are not sustainable because they require resources that are non-renewable and contribute emissions in the manufacturing process and are not easily recyclable after use. Art supplies are also a significant source of waste to landfills and pollute water. This doesn't even include the list of questionable ingredients or excessive packaging they often get distributed in. 

Many materials, such as brushes and acrylic paints, are made from plastics contributing to fossil fuel depletion. The manufacturing process of these supplies requires lots of water and then pollutes the water by releasing micro-plastics into waterways, harming aquatic ecosystems. Synthetic brushes and paint tubes can take centuries to decompose in landfills not to mention the packaging they arrive in. Many art supplies contain toxic chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals like cadmium and lead. Finally, overconsumption is a problem. Low prices and popular trends can all lead to more art supply purchases than needed which increases waste and resource depletion in turn.

Let’s start with watercolour paints. This is my preferred medium. Although, watercolour paints are generally considered safe. Some colours such as cadmium (yellows and red), cobalt (blues) and white can contain toxic substances. There is probably not enough chemical content to cause harm if ingested but it is a good idea to keep water pots away from pets and do not eat or drink while painting. It’s easy to mistake your water pot for your coffee cup. Also, you should be wary of what you flush down the sink. Wastewater eventually gets recycled back into the environment. We want to prevent micro plastics or toxic chemicals from entering this system in the first place. 

There are a number of different certifications that you can look for when sourcing paint products. Many paints are labeled “ACMI AP” which means they are an “Approved Product”. This seal “identifies art materials that are safe when used as intended and that are certified in a toxicological evaluation” that “they contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children”. Some paints are labeled “CL” which means “Cautionary Labeling”. A “CL” seal “identifies products that are certified to be properly labeled for any known health risks and with information on the safe and proper use of these materials”. “Products with this seal are not hazardous” but “these products should never be given to children in grade 6 or lower”. Anthony from Watercolour Affair provides an informative article here. 

Acrylic paints are an even bigger concern, especially with regards to micro plastics. The paints themselves don’t pose any serious health concerns. It’s how you clean them up where the problems begin. The paints, once dry, are somewhat inert. They pose much less risk when in a solid form. It’s when you are cleaning your supplies that you want to be careful to keep as much out of the water as possible. Waste water gets recovered at some point and we want to prevent mircro-plastics and toxic chemicals from entering this stream. Golden Artist Company has put together a wonderful list of best practices for disposal of paint here.

Of course, there are lots of other examples of wasteful art supplies that we need to be aware of. These include pens, pencils, markers, paper, canvas, paint tubes, printer cartridges, tapes, glues, ribbons and decorative crafting materials such as glitter. Many are extremely difficult to recycle. They end up in our landfills and can take hundreds of years to decompose. If you are able, try and limit your purchase of these materials and whenever possible, purchase used. I have picked up many pads of art paper through Facebook market place. Find craft materials at the second hand store and try and use up what you already have before purchasing new.

There are a number of companies offering sustainable art supplies. Beam Paints is my favourite example. This Canadian Indigenous owned and operated company manufactures high quality paint from naturally derived pigments, with plastic free packaging. It’s not cheap though. There are always costs to doing the right thing. Natural Earth Paint is another Canadian option. With a focus on non-toxic ingredients, 100% post-consumer recycled packaging, and a solar-powered processing facility, they are embracing eco-friendly practices. Faber-Castell, Crayola, Golden Artist Colors, and Eco-kids, focus on eco-friendly practices, recycled materials, and non-toxic ingredients. Winsor & Newton, Da Vinci Paint Co, and Canson are also making efforts toward sustainability. You can not completely eliminate waste by purchasing from these companies but you will be able to make an impact. 

If you live in the Nelson area, Cowan’s Office Supplies recognizes that they must take some responsibility for artist waste materials and they now provide an art supply recycling facility. You may drop off spent pens, pencils and other supplies in store for proper recycling. 

Picture frames also contribute a substantial amount of waste due to the manufacturing of new materials like wood and plastic and the use of components like glass, backing boards and adhesives. To reduce waste, you can choose frames made from recycled or reclaimed materials, which diverts waste from landfills, or purchase used ones. I find all sorts of sizes and shapes at garage sales and thrift stores. It doesn’t hurt to stock up when you find a few in good shape. If you are disposing of frames, be sure to separate materials and recycle what you can (like plain paper frames) and take non-recyclable parts to a household waste recycling centre. Putting my watercolour paintings in second-hand frames saves money too. New frames cost more both at the beginning of their life cycle to manufacture and at the end managing the waste. 

Finally, the best, and likely most challenging solution is to try and switch to 100% local and biodegradable materials whenever possible. In my own practice, I have been experimenting with entirely new art forms that create zero waste. Everything in nature is recycled so, when I’m working on new projects, I consider what waste materials will be generated and if I can safely recycle or compost them myself. The foraged wreaths I started making are a perfect example. Every decorative piece incorporated into a wreath is foraged from our property. The rings are made from willow branches, the greenery is a combination of pine, cedar, hemlock and boxwood cut fresh. I collect dried flowers, pinecones and feathers for the embellishments. The only supply I purchase is the string for assembling. Jute, sisal or hemp work fine. I try to find brands that don’t come wrapped in plastic. Once the wreaths have reached their end, they can simply be thrown in the compost, string and all. Zero waste. 

Thank you to the Castlegar Arts Council, You can now immerse yourself in the simple beauty of nature and learn the art of floral design in a 3-hour Dried and Foraged Winter Wreath Workshop with me!

I also use a lot of deadwood. I collect and bring small logs and branches home to my husband who cuts them into cookies for me. I use these cookies as my canvas for wood burning. While my wood burning kit does use electricity and there is some smoke released while I’m working, this process leaves minimal impact over the long run. I don’t need paint or other drawing materials. The art itself is sustainable and will naturally return to the earth if given the opportunity. Plus, when you purchase my art, you can be proud of the fact that you are supporting local and sustainable practices that do not create any waste. 

Check out one of the many holiday markets where you may purchase our sustainable art or shop online at our at the Trading Post at Bear Spring Eco Retreat. 

Making art doesn’t always have to meet the traditional objective of permanence. Consider making art that is more temporary. There are so many natural and recyclable materials available in our own back yards if we use our imaginations!