Decorate sustainably with Lick's eco paint, wallpaper and tools

We’re all about eco – eco paint, eco decorating tools, and eco-initiatives. Long gone are the days where sustainability was just a bit of a buzzword; brands all over the world are waking up to the fact that it’s a must-have, and in the world of decorating supplies, it means way more than a line of water-based paint (though it’s a good place to start). So here it is, an eco lowdown on what’s going on in the world of Lick.

First up, facts, figures and setting the sustainable scene

2020 wasn’t all doom and gloom you know. Searches for the term ‘sustainable brands’ reached its highest peak in five years – if that’s not a beacon of hope and a sign of positive change then we don’t know what is. 32% of adults in Britain state that sustainability now plays a part in deciding what products they buy and which brands they shop from. Half of the adults in the UK have already taken action whether that’s buying less plastic or swapping to speedy showers.

Here at Lick, we’ve wanted in on the eco-conscious action from day one. In fact, we’ve made it our mission to influence the global interiors industry’s environmental footprint for the better. To shake it up and to cause a stir, starting with our audit and 2020 sustainability report which you can find on our Sustainability Hub.

In the words of our CEO and co-founder Lucas: “We are living in unprecedented times. Deforestation, ‘forever chemicals’, and greenhouse gasses – there’s no denying that the global decor industry is responsible for some damaging effects on the planet – and now we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic. We want to provide stylish interiors without compromising on sustainability, so we bring the decor department to the doors of our consumers, without it costing the earth. From sustainable sourcing and manufacturing to carbon-conscious distribution channels and support of charities that create change, at Lick we are more than just committed to reducing our environmental impact: it is at the forefront of what we do.”

“At Lick we are more than just committed to reducing our environmental impact: it is at the forefront of what we do.”

Low VOC paint – say what?

Volatile Organic Compounds – you can see why they’re referred to as VOCs for short. Aside from choosing water-based paint, those with low VOC levels are the next eco box to tick. The fundamental reason why you should use low VOC paint is that it’ll contain fewer harmful substances. VOC solvents create paints that take longer to dry. They’re easier to work with, but their environmental disadvantages far outweigh their plus points. 

Sustainable decorating supplies as standard

When our founders Sam and Lucas set out to create Lick, they were starting from scratch, so why wouldn’t they try to put their best foot forward from the offset? That’s why our line of decorating tools is anything but a quick ‘off-the-shelf’ job. Far from it, we work with the first B-corp supplier in Europe.

That means whatever you pick out from our supplies section will have been manufactured to the highest environmental standards using sustainably sourced bamboo and sugarcane. Everything is either compostable, biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable because we recognise that we could make a difference not just through our paints. 

Psst…bedtime reading for the eco-conscious decorator right this way.