Arabian Danish Paint Company (ADPC) says continuous investments in technology and research enabled it to become the first paint company to launch environmentally friendly products in Saudi Arabia.
General manager of the company Essam Balkhyour explains that its products being water-based, they work well for traditional interior surfaces. They are specially formulated and manufactured with selected raw materials, which are safe even in the often-reduced ventilation environments common in the Middle East, he says.
Arabian Danish Paint Company, founded in 1976, is a 100 per cent Saudi-owned company that uses quality and technology from established international industry specialist Dyrup and Company of Denmark.
“Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. Indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 80 per cent of their time indoors,” says Balkhyour.
“In the Middle East the problem is exacerbated since reduced ventilation, combined with the use of paints containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for interior wall and furnishings, and the use of chemically formulated care products, pesticides and household cleaners, is the norm.
“VOCs can evaporate from any normal painted wall surface into the air and may be trapped indoors, especially in tightly-sealed buildings in Saudi Arabia. VOCs may irritate the eyes, sinuses, throat and lungs and may trigger asthma. Luckily Dyrup has a full range of water-based VOC-free paints.
“As global environmental awareness has increased, Saudi Arabia has placed more emphasis on protecting its citizens from environmental hazards. The Saudi Arabian Meteorology and Environment Protection Agency (MEPA) has attempted to forge a delicate balance, especially with oil and gas-driven pollution. Moreover, many environmentalists increasingly point fingers at the importance of pollution control.”
Balkhyour claims that Arabian Danish Paint Company allays environment concerns by providing Dyrup’s eco-friendly products.
The official says his company is constantly upgrading its manufacturing facilities with the latest technology, a policy that has earned it the ISO 9002 international quality certification.
