FTC: VOC-free paint not so after tinting

Two paint manufacturers accused of making dubious claims that their interior paints contained no harmful volatile organic compounds have reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the agency announced Wednesday. Ohio-based The Sherwin-Williams Co. marketed its Dutch Boy Refresh paint as having "zero VOCs," the FTC said. Pennsylvania-based PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc., did the same with its Pure Performance. Though the untinted paint may contain a trace amount of VOCs or less, most tints "typically have much higher levels of the compounds," the FTC said. Because most paint is tinted at the time of purchase, consumers were misled, the FTC said. The companies agreed to prominently reflect the truth in its labeling and marketing. Click below to read the following documents: FTC allegations against PPG FTC allegations against Sherwin Williams FTC/PPG consent order FTC/Sherwin Williams consent order