Decorating leader Dulux paints, part of leading international paint business ICI Paints, has called for greater government protection for paint consumers.
Tony Myers, Managing Director, Exports and Licensing, ICI Paints, said: “Currently there is no UAE national legislation in place for paint manufacturers to regulate the composition of paint or driving environmental concerns. However, Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints, manufactures Dulux paints adhering to ICI Paint’s charter for safety, health and environment (SHE) performance. Globally ICI Dulux Paints works in accordance with the CHIP Regulation 1994, which stresses the usage levels of restricted and banned materials in the production of paints. Environmental concerns should play a more significant role for businesses and retail customers when selecting a paint product.”
Due to commercial reasons many local paint producers do not make an effort to source eco-friendly ingredients, thereby producing cheaper and more hazardous paints. This is a great cause of concern because many of the ingredients at high levels can be dangerous, particularly lead. In some cases, high levels of lead exposure, can lead to kidney damage or harm to the central nervous system that can cause convulsions, coma or even death.
Philip Mathew, General Manager, Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints, said: “Lead poisoning particularly comes into the spotlight with children. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, nearly one million children in the US under six have blood lead levels high enough to impair their ability to think, concentrate and learn. In children, lead poisoning can reduce IQ, cause learning disabilities and impair hearing.”
According to report by International Union of Operating Engineers, indoor air pollution is estimated to be two to five times worse than outdoor air pollution. The U.S. Department of Labour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates some 21.2 million Americans are working in 1.4 million buildings teeming with indoor air pollution that can lead to health problems such as allergy, nausea and fatigue. One of the many causes of indoor air pollution is the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) which can be found in many paints.
“It is for these reasons that Safety, Health and Environmental care are central to our business. For over three decades, ICI Dulux has remained the only paints company producing paints with no added mercury, lead and chromium containing compounds,” said Philip Mathew, General Manager, Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints.
Recently AGLP completed projects for the Modern High School and Westminster School in Dubai. Moreover, they have worked on many major healthcare facilities including Zulekha Hospital, American Hospital and the Wellcare Hospital. In UAE, several bodies like Ministry of Public Works and Housing have recognized and commended AGLP’s commitment to SHE issues.
“At ICI Dulux we believe that our work is never so urgent or important that we cannot take the time to do it safely. Dulux paints will continue to set an example for other paint manufacturers by strictly using environment friendly raw materials, even where regulations have not come into force. Concern for safety, health and environment is what our business is determined to continuously build upon,” added Mathew.
Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints was established in the Emirate of Sharjah in 1988 to manufacture a wide range of Industrial and Decorative Coatings. The Protective Coatings for the Industrial, Marine and Petrochemical Industry including Coatings for Fire Protection are manufactured under licence from Leigh’s Paints, UK while high quality Dulux decorative paints are manufactured under licence from ICI Paints, UK. AGLP manufactures and distributes the full range of paints under the Leigh’s, Dulux and Oasis Brands.
In addition, Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints operates a regional technical laboratory equipped with the latest R&D and analysis equipment providing a high degree of technical commitment to the region. Al Gurg Leigh’s Paints is a member of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group of Companies.
The Easa Saleh Al Gurg (ESAG) Group was founded by the Chairman of the Group and the UAE’s ambassador to the UK, H.E Easa Saleh Al Gurg CBE, in 1960. Today the group is associated with over 20 brands such as British American Tobacco, Unilever, Dunlop, Siemens, United Colors of Benetton, and Burmah Castrol.
