What are the best low-VOC and zero-VOC paint brands available in New Brunswick?

The best low-VOC and zero-VOC interior paints widely available in New Brunswick are Benjamin Moore Natura, Sherwin-Williams Harmony, and Dulux Breathe Easy — all genuinely zero-VOC at the base, with minimal VOC added during tinting.

VOC stands for volatile organic compounds — the chemical solvents in paint that off-gas as the paint dries and cure. Traditional paints can contain 150-400 grams of VOC per litre. Health Canada’s limits for interior architectural coatings are 50 g/L for flat finishes and 150 g/L for non-flat finishes, and all paints sold in Canada meet these minimums. But zero-VOC paints go much further, containing fewer than 5 g/L — a meaningful difference for indoor air quality, especially in winter when NB homes are sealed tight against the cold for months at a time.

Benjamin Moore Natura is the gold standard in this category and is the product most NB painting professionals recommend when clients ask for the lowest possible VOC option. Natura is certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, contains zero VOC in its base, and performs comparably to premium conventional paints in coverage and washability. It is available through Benjamin Moore independent dealers across NB. Sherwin-Williams Harmony is another excellent zero-VOC option available at Sherwin-Williams locations in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John — it also includes an antimicrobial additive that helps resist mildew on interior walls, which can be helpful in older NB homes with moisture issues. Dulux Breathe Easy is available at hardware stores across the province and is a solid mid-range zero-VOC choice.

One important caveat about tinting: most zero-VOC paints are zero-VOC in the white or light base, but the colourant added at the store can introduce VOCs — sometimes significantly for deep or saturated colours. If zero-VOC is important for health reasons, ask the paint store to use their zero-VOC colourant system rather than the standard universal tinter. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams both offer this option at their dedicated stores. At big-box stores, zero-VOC tinting is not always available, so keep this in mind if you are choosing Behr.

When does zero-VOC really matter in an NB home?

• Nurseries, bedrooms for children, and any space where a sensitive individual sleeps or spends significant time — this is the highest-priority use case


• Homes with residents who have asthma, chemical sensitivities, or respiratory conditions


• Painting in winter when ventilation is limited — NB homes are well-sealed against the cold, and conventional paint fumes build up without fresh air


• Any project completed while the family is living in the home and cannot easily leave during painting and off-gassing

Regardless of VOC content, always ventilate during interior painting — open windows when weather allows, use fans to move air, and take breaks in fresh air. Even zero-VOC paints produce some odour from water evaporation and other compounds during drying. The difference is that the chemical off-gassing that lingers for days or weeks with conventional paint is essentially eliminated with a true zero-VOC product. For families with young children or health concerns, the modest price premium for Natura or Harmony is genuinely worthwhile.

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