Red List Free Finishes
Paints, stains, and sealers carrying the Declare Red List Free label — zero Red List ingredients above 100 ppm.
Toxicity Screening — All Clear
This material screens clear across all seven independent toxicology authorities we use on every project.
Material Type
LBC-Certified Coatings & Sealants
Material Description
Finishes are where chemical exposure happens fastest in a new home — paint, stain, and sealer all cure for weeks after install, off-gassing whatever's in their formulation. Red List Free finishes are the strictest version of "zero-VOC": they go further than the standard VOC-content rules by also excluding ~800 specific chemicals from the LBC Red List, including formaldehyde, isocyanates, alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants, phthalates, and chlorinated solvents. Declare-labeled products publish their full ingredient list. EBH defaults to Red List Free finishes throughout every project: mineral paint or low-VOC acrylic on walls, natural-oil hard-wax on wood floors, water-based zero-VOC stains on cabinetry.
Composition & Origin
Health Profile — All Endpoints Clear
Severity scored 0–10 against the same 10 hazard endpoints we use for the chemical families on the avoid list. Every score is 1–2 — essentially no signal across every endpoint.
Common Forms & Brands
- ECOS Paints (Declare Red List Free)
- AFM Safecoat (long-time low-tox finish brand)
- ROMABIO mineral paints
- Rubio Monocoat hard-wax oil
- Common framing: zero-VOC paint, mineral paint, hard-wax oil, water-based stain
Why We Use It
- Zero formaldehyde, zero isocyanates, zero APE surfactants
- Strictest indoor-air-quality finish standard available
- Manufacturer ingredient disclosure required
- Compatible with chemical-sensitivity protocols
- Specification floor for high-priority indoor environments
Where It Performs Best
- Interior wall and ceiling paint
- Cabinet and trim finishes
- Hardwood floor sealers
- Exterior wood stains and sealers
Building Applications for Red List Free Finishes
Listed alphabetically. Where in a home this material earns its keep.
Cabinet & Casework Finishes
Exterior Wood Stains & Sealers
Hardwood Floor Sealers & Oils
Interior Wall & Ceiling Paint
Sealants & Caulks (Red List Free)
Red List Free Finishes on a Bay Area Home
Red List Free Finishes shows up on our zero energy homes for a reason. An all electric house with a very small heating load only works if the envelope is right, and the envelope is only as good as the materials you are willing to put in it.
If you are planning a new house or a deep remodel and you want this level of material control, that is the whole job we do. Earth Bound Homes builds in Atherton, Palo Alto, Redwood City and across the San Francisco Bay Area.