TUALATIN, ORE.—Hartmann & Forbes, a fabricator of sustainable handcrafted window coverings, has converted its signature ColourWeave Collection to use exclusively Low and No VOC paints (Volatile Organic Compounds). ColourWeave is now one of the most environmentally friendly painted matchstick collections of its kind in the industry.
“The mission of Project Green is to do our best to minimize the environmental impact across our business,” says Michael Jones, Hartmann & Forbes’ founder and CEO. “The recent strides that paint companies have made in environmentally friendly paints have allowed us, in turn, to provide our clients a more environmentally responsible shade.”
Each weave of the ColourWeave collection is handwoven from hand splintered bamboo, and then hand painted in Hartmann & Forbes’ Northwest finishing facility. The new paints feature minimal levels of VOCs—organic chemicals that become a breathable gas at room temperature. While VOCs enhance paint coverage and durability, they also contribute to air pollution and can be hazardous to inhale. The paints Hartmann & Forbes now use are specially designed to exceed LEED environmental standards for paint while retaining the durability and colorfastness typically found in VOC varieties.
Available as handwoven roman shades, draperies or PanelScreen, the ColourWeave Collection features more than 50 standard colors including stains and hand twisted bamboo. Shades may be made in widths of up to 144 inches with custom colors and striping options also available.
In order to maintain quality control over each product, all ColourWeave Collections will continue to be painted in the United States. This practice was put in place in conjunction with the product launch in 2005.
“Painting each weave in our local facility allows us to maintain the most stringent quality controls,” Jones says. “We know what’s in our paint, which is especially significant in light of all of the recent problems with products made in China.”
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