Herstellung von Leinölfarbe
Traditionell stellten Künstler und Dekorateure ihre Farbe selbst her, indem sie eine Paste aus ausgewählten Pigmenten und einer Ölbasis mischten. Dazu verwendeten sie einfache Handwerkzeuge: einen Reibstein (ein kurzstieliges Werkzeug zum Mahlen von Pigmenten) und eine Platte. Zunächst rieben sie die Pulverpigmente mit etwas Öl an und fügten dann nach und nach mehr Öl hinzu, um die richtige Konsistenz zu erreichen. Künstler verwendeten typischerweise weniger Öl in ihrer Farbe, während Maler mehr verwendeten, um eine dünnere Farbe zu erhalten, die sich besser für große Flächen eignete.
Diese traditionelle Methode des Mischens von Hand war nicht nur zeit- und arbeitsintensiv, sondern es war auch schwierig, jedes Mal ein einheitliches Ergebnis zu erzielen. Um die Haltbarkeit der Farbe zu gewährleisten, ist es wichtig, dass Leinöl und Pigmente vollständig miteinander verschmelzen. Ist die Farbe nicht richtig gemischt, mattiert sie deutlich schneller, was den Pflegeaufwand erhöht.
Um optimale Ergebnisse zu erzielen, verwendet Brouns & Co im Herstellungsprozess Säulenmischer und große Fässer. Die in diesen Fässern gemischte Farbe wird anschließend in eine Dreiwalzenmühle überführt. Hier durchläuft die Farbe, die zu diesem Zeitpunkt eher eine pastöse Konsistenz hat, je nach Körnung der verwendeten Pigmente drei- bis fünfmal die Walzen. Dieser Prozess erzeugt eine wunderbar homogene Konsistenz, die die Grundlage für die späteren Farbtöne bildet.
Wichtig ist jedoch, dass die Mischung etwa Raumtemperatur hat. Die Reibung von Metall auf Metall erzeugt erhebliche Hitze. Wird das Öl zu heiß, wird es dünnflüssiger, wodurch das Pigment schlechter haftet. Daher sind beim Mahlen zusätzliche Maßnahmen erforderlich, um Öl und Paste auf der richtigen Temperatur zu halten. Dies wird durch den Einsatz von Walzen erreicht, die ständig mit kaltem Wasser durchströmt werden.
Sieht man von modernen Maschinen und zusätzlichen Kühltechniken ab, ist die heutige Methode, Pigmente in gekochtes Öl zu mahlen, im Prinzip Hunderte von Jahren alt. Vor diesem Hintergrund versteht man, warum die Herstellung von Leinölfarbe teurer ist als die einfacheren Methoden zur Herstellung moderner Kunststofffarben. Der Kostenunterschied wird jedoch größtenteils durch die hervorragende Deckkraft der Leinölfarbe ausgeglichen, da ein Liter Leinölfarbe deutlich weiter reicht als moderne Kunststofffarben.
Stakeholder Education
Our strategy for stakeholder education involves creating content that informs them about sustainability issues, including the environmental impact of products/services and industry practices. This content is designed to be accessible and engaging, helping to raise awareness and understanding of key environmental issues.
We launch interactive sustainability campaigns that encourage stakeholder participation. These campaigns, such as recycling programs or community clean-up events, aim to actively involve consumers in sustainability efforts, making them a part of the solution.
Partnerships & Collaborations
We are dedicated to promoting sustainability and responsible marketing and communications practice across our network of partners and collaborators.
We actively engage with our partners to encourage alignment with our sustainability values and the principles outlined in this policy. This engagement involves referring The Anti-Greenwash Charter, whilst also sharing knowledge and resources to enhance their understanding and implementation of responsible marketing and communications practice.
We uphold transparency in all our partnerships. Clear communication about the sustainability efforts of our collaborators is essential. We inform our stakeholders about the sustainability credentials of our
partners, reinforcing our commitment to upholding our sustainability goals and public commitments, and encouraging a broader adoption of responsible business practices.
Reviews of Content
We conduct quarterly internal audits of our marketing and communications content to ensure references are accurate and up to date. During these audits, we also review new developments in the industry to identify benchmarking opportunities. Additionally, we undertake an annual review of all ‘static’ content—such as website pages and key documents—to ensure compliance with any updates to the Charter’s standards, changes in relevant regulations, or adjustments to our organisation’s GCP. This ensures our communications remain aligned with the latest expectations for
transparency and responsibility. By incorporating both regular audits and an annual comprehensive review, we ensure our content consistently reflects the highest standards of responsible marketing and communications.
Legal Compliance
Our commitment to legal compliance is unwavering, particularly in the area of green claims. We have established a comprehensive legal compliance framework that includes regular internal audits, ongoing employee training, and collaboration with external legal experts.
Our marketing and communications content is thoroughly reviewed to ensure it complies with all relevant local and international laws, including those related to environmental advertising and data privacy.
We also stay informed about regulatory changes and update our practices accordingly to ensure continuous compliance. Any instances of non-compliance are promptly addressed, and corrective actions are taken to prevent future occurrences. Our legal team works closely with the marketing and communications departments to ensure that all content is both legally sound and aligned with our sustainability commitments.
Governance of this Policy
Our MD is responsible for ensuring that our compliance with this Green Claims Policy is reviewed quarterly. Any non-compliance with this policy will be brought to the attention of the Team, who will decide on further actions and whether the matter should be escalated further.
Any concerns about compliance which cannot be assessed by the MD will be referred to The Anti Greenwash Charter for independent review.
Before entering into new partnerships with third parties, such as suppliers, we share our Green Claims Policy with them to encourage adoption of similar standards.
Campaign Reviews
As a committed signatory of The Anti-Greenwash Charter, we actively engage in an on-going audit process to ensure compliance with our Green Claims Policy. This process involves providing evidence of effective implementation of our practices and procedures during periodic reviews, conducted by a third-party, of a marketing or communications campaign.
These periodic assessments are vital in demonstrating our dedication to upholding responsible marketing and communications practice.
Moreover, we recognise and accept that all audit reports will be appended to our Green Claims Practice (GCP) for public review, ensuring an added layer of transparency and accountability. We are fully aware that any instances of non-compliance may result in the revocation of our certified signatory status, underscoring the importance of continuous compliance and transparency in our operations.
Where We Could Improve
We are committed to continuous improvement in our sustainability practices. Each year, we conduct a thorough assessment of our operations to identify areas where we can further reduce our environmental impact.
Recent evaluations have highlighted opportunities for greater supply chain transparency and provide more training for our team.
To address these areas, we have set specific targets, such as increasing the traceability of our raw materials, and investing in renewable energy.
We regularly review our progress towards these goals and adjust our strategies as needed to ensure we remain at the forefront of sustainable practices.
