You’ve probably heard of the Dulux Dog but let us introduce you to Buddy the Community Repaint Dog 2024 who entered our social media competition and won!
Here’s Buddy featured among empty paint pots which have been upcycled into plant pots. We love the creativity and passion for reuse Buddy demonstrated!
We love receiving other entries for the Community RePaint dog 2024, and here are a few of our favourites!
Here’s Edward showing off his newly paint orange kitchen!
Here’s Jess the rescue Frenchie!
Here’s Pippa, who is often borrowed to go on walks!
We loved this photo of Sophie who is always on hand to let a paw to DIY and garden jobs! Great work Sophie!
If you’ve got a DIY project underway and are looking for paint, you can pick up paint from our scheme’s that has been saved from waste, helping to save the planet and save money. Find your local scheme here.
So what is is about this unassuming neutral that has caught the attention and imagination of the young generation?
According to Dulux’s creative direction and Colour expert Marienne Shillingford, ‘It is a pale, visually “kitten soft” neutral that captures the essence of natural undyed cotton,’
Part of the charm of this colour is that is appears to visually shift in tone depending on the light, meaning that it appear a cool grey in some lights, and a warm beige in others. It is the epitome of the term ‘greige.’
“People are being a little more brave with colours,” says Hannah Yeo, color marketing manager at Benjamin Moore. She singles out a return of red, orange and yellow – and not just for accents. “The classic red dining room is coming back.”
So what does this all mean for preloved paint? Well, because Community RePaint shelves are filled with post project paint, they contain a lot of neutral shades alongside side brights.
According to regular Community RePaint customer Evie, “the fun of choosing a colour from a Community RePaint scheme is in the looking. I find it so inspiring to see all these potential colours and shades in front of me, I’m like a child in a sweet shop.”
Perhaps there is a tin of Egyptian Cotton waiting for you on the shelf of your nearest Community RePaint scheme, saved from going to waste at the end of someone’s project. Or perhaps you’ll be won over by another neutral tone. Perhaps you’ll fall unexpectedly in love with a vibrant blue! Whatever gem you’ll find, has been saved from unnecessary disposal.
The Waste Wagon project found that we tend to store large volumes of leftover, reusable paint in our sheds, garages and cupboards. As part of the project, this leftover paint was collected from householders, along with other DIY materials and hazardous items. At the end of the project, the paint was given to local charities and groups, which highlighted the demand for affordable paint amongst these organisations, as well as a need amongst individuals and families on low income.
From these two activities, the collection and redistribution of leftover paint, the model for the Community RePaint network was born. It was established by Resource Futures with support from Dulux who became our sole sponsor in 2008. The first two Community RePaint schemes were set up in Leeds and Ealing in 1993. Today we have expanded to over 70 schemes covering all corners of the United Kingdom.
In 2015 we launched our first paint remanufacturing centre at our scheme in March, Cambridgeshire, which was quickly followed by our second on the Wirral in 2016. The remanufacturing centres have allowed us to take the next step in paint reuse – reprocessing more leftover paint, ensuring its quality and longevity, and then making it available in new Community RePaint branded containers to community organisations (especially those with premises to decorate) and families on low incomes. Our remanufactured paint is now available at some of our schemes or can be ordered directly from us.
Click on image to see a larger version
About Resource Futures
Resource Futures is an independent environmental consultancy business. Resource Futures works in partnership with a range of clients from local authorities and government bodies to small businesses and multi-national companies, as well as third sector organisations and community groups. Resource Futures is an employee-owned, non-profit-distributing company with a 25-year heritage of environmental improvement, and is a certified B-Corp.
About Dulux
Dulux is the UK’s leading paint brand and believes that colour can have a positive impact on people’s lives. It aims to inspire people to create beautiful living spaces and offers a range of paints and services to achieve this. Dulux is committed to creating a brighter future by delivering more value from fewer resources across its supply chain, operations and beyond.
A volunteer prepares donated paint for reuse at our scheme in Birmingham (Community repaint Sandwell and Soho)
Back in 1992, we were first made aware of the extent of the problem of paint waste in the UK. Following a pilot project in Leeds called The Waste Wagon, that was run by the Special Collections Research Group set up by Leeds City Council, to address issues with household hazardous waste.
The Waste Wagon project found that we tend to store large volumes of leftover, reusable paint in our sheds, garages and cupboards. As part of the project, this leftover paint was collected from householders, along with other DIY materials and hazardous items. At the end of the project, the paint was given to local charities and groups, which highlighted the demand for affordable paint amongst these organisations, as well as a need for individuals and families on low income.
Bradford RePaint manager Karen Hutchinson and volunteer Lawrence Knowles. Dulux sponsor community RePaint.
It was then, in 1993, that Community RePaint was born.
Community RePaint is managed by Resource Futures a B-Corp certified environmental consultancy working with the private, public and non-profit sectors to enable positive management of Resources.
Over the last thirty years, we have grown to have 75 schemes all over the UK saving paint from going to waste and redistributing it to their communities.Through out network 5.4 million litres of paint has been reused. We’re excited to see this grow and grow as we encourage people to reuse paint for their projects and donate their surplus paint to others in their community.
This year alone, 261,521 litres of paint have been collected with 213,977 litres reused, helping 1,578 organisations and 25,810 individuals add colour to their lives.
Community RePaint Workington uses their paint donations for rainbows painted during half term school activity sessions.
Since our inception, our work has been sponsored by Dulux. Peter Howard, their Sustainability and CSR Lead at AkzoNobel, commented: “With over 55 million litres of paint wasted each year, it’s clear we have to help more consumers to re-use and recycle their leftover paint wherever possible. We have been working with Community RePaint since its inception to put as much leftover paint as possible to its best use colouring lives and communities. Over the past 30 years we have worked to grow the network to 75 different schemes, helping to re-use over 5.4 million litres of paint.”
The Rugby Lions repaint their fences with our ReColour paint, remanufactured from leftover paint.
““It’s inspiring to see the amazing milestones the network has achieved, and we remain committed to supporting this hugely important initiative, whilst also working more widely with industry to increase the re-use and re-manufacture rate of decorative paint.”
A roll out of schemes open in Staffordshire, as part of Staffordshire County Council’s commitments to reduce waste.
This major milestone is a great opportunity to reflect on the amazing successes of our project. From finding a solution for leftover paint for councils, waste contractors, manufacturers and homes, as well as providing the solution for affordable paint for communities, charities, schools families and individuals. We’re working hard to ensure that we end paint waste across the industry and brighten communities instead.
Residents at the two sites have already been picking up paint for reuse in droves with an impressive 378 litres of paint picked up form Cannock on its very first day of opening. That’s a lot of paint saved from waste, in one day!
With 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres run by Staffordshire County Council, we’re excited to see lots more paint being donated and reused by residents all across the county in the near future. If you want to be the first to know of new schemes or drop off points near you- sign up to our newsletter here.
If you are a Staffordshire resident and you have leftover paint from your home that you’d like to pass on for reuse, visit the drop-off point at either Stafford or Cannock. Local groups and individuals will then be able to access the site to collect the paint and reuse it.
Individuals and groups can collect paint for reuse for free from these sites.
This scheme is part of Staffordshire Council’s Waste Savvy Staffs campaign, aiming to reduce waste in Staffordshire by focusing on the core principles of reduce, reuse and recycle.
It’s a way for you to throw the painting rule book out of the window, and be playful with how you use paint and colour. With the rise of maximalism in interior design, people are embracing bold colour like never before, seeking ways to express themselves in their homes, where we are spending an increasing amount of time. Colour drenching is a growing trend seen online from interior designers and DIYers alike.
Colour drenching can have the effect of making a room appear bigger by blurring the edges of a space like where the ceiling meets the walls. It can also create a sense of tranquility by removing stark contrasts. It means that areas of interest and depth are created through the lighting in a room rather than with colour. It often means colour drenching works best when coupled with architectural details such a panelling, to create visual interest in a space.
Colour drenching can be an effective way to zone areas of a room. In a space which has more than one function, like a kitchen-diner or spare room-office.
If you’re keen to have a go for yourself, why check out the paint available at your local Community Repaint scheme, and get inspired to go bold with colour this year.
Pastel Green, Blue or Pink– you’re a romantic, who wants a simple life, you’re hopeful and positive and want to share that with the world. You bake bread and weekends and love reading.
Bright Green, Yellow or Orange– you want to make a statement and draw people’s eye. Not flashy but fun and playful. You’ve got energy and you’re not afraid to show it. You wear odd socks.
Deep Red, Forest Green or Navy Blue– you’re not a thrill seeker, you crave comfort and stability. You’re a peacemaker and unwind with a cup of tea and a custard cream.
Black– You’re mysterious, keeping your cards close to your chest. You are a style icon and are unapologetic, your sunglasses and shoes are always matching.
Bright Red – You like the classics, black and white film and vinyl. You own (or want to own) a mini. Your weekends are spent walking your dog and playing chess.
Pink – You love making a statement and daring people to question your taste. As much as you love the colour, you also chose it to wind up your neighbours.
Grey– you are suave and sophisticated and appreciate order and calm environments. Your hobbies including photographing brutalist architecture and tending your indoor plants.
So, are we right?
If you’re looking to change up your front door, perhaps to make your own mark in a new house, it’s a great opportunity to seek out your local Community Repaint scheme to pick a tin (or half a tin) that has been saved from going to waste. Look for exterior gloss or semi-gloss to make sure your new door withstands the elements and is easy to clean.
How to paint your front door.
Clean your door with hot soapy water to remove any greasy residue, fully dry the surface and lightly sand the surface of the door to ensure that your new paint will adhere well. (Make sure you put down a dust sheet first).
Remove the dust from the sanding with a brush, to ensure a good clean finish.
Carefully mask the any hardware you want to keep free of paint such as a knocker, letterbox, or handle
You can then add the colour to your masterpiece. The preloved paint will mean you save around 65% on buying brand-new paint and will ensure that no good paint goes to waste.
Patch Kendall, already filling up shelves at Community RePaint Workington -opening soon
Hi Patch! Tell us, how did you hear about the Community RePaint network?
I have known about RePaint since its beginnings in the 1990s. I eventually discovered a RePaint in Wigon and over the years have used it regularly.
What motivated you to set up a Community RePaint scheme?
The environmental impact paint has on the planet and the social impact too. Reclaimed paint is usable, sold cheaper. This helps people on low incomes as well as community organisation working within tight budgets.
Who do you hope will benefit from your scheme?
Absolutely everybody. Whatever their circumstances, the more paint we pass on the more we can get in, less impacts the environment.
Do you have any testimonials, quotes or anecdotes to share?
Even though we’re not quite open yet, I have sold some paint to a lady who was decorating her son’s bedroom. She is on a low income and was delighted with the two tins she’s purchased. She estimated a saving of £10.
That’s fantastic!
For Patch, the mission is simple: to save as much paint as possible from going into landfill and polluting the environment and making it available to organisations, low income families and individuals.
Thank you Patch for sharing your work, and for joining us in the fight to save paint from going to waste!
Thank you to everyone who bought preloved paint in 2023, and if you’re starting a project this year, why not visit your local scheme to find the paint you need in an affordable and sustainable way.
If you’re wanting to pass on your leftover paint for reuse, click here.
Since 2020, Lulu has been using ReColour chalk paint from our remanufacturing centre in Wirral for her projects and upcyling commissions and she’s not looked back! “I am so glad I found it Rebecca and her paints!” “It’s my go to paint, and having used a fair few more popular brands, that are sometimes twice as expensive, I always settle on ReColour” “It helps the planet. There is a lovely range of beautiful colours.”
So Lulu, what where your first impressions of using our ReColour chalk paint?
“It goes on like a dream, it really does.” “These paints make my job as a painter so much easier!! You know the warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you spread butter on bread and it’s EXACTLY the right consistency so it goes own without making the bread crumble ? That is how I feel when I use ReColour paints. They go on like a dream. They cover just right. Sure I’ll do another coat, but the satisfaction I feel from that first coat is just amazing.”
“When I opened my shop, it made sense to stock this paint as I am a big fan! And an advocate.”
So, now you’re a stockist, why should other people consider buying ReColour chalk paint?
“Well it is remanufactured for a start. Waste paint is converted to an eco friendly low VOC child friendly chalk paint.
* I support a small business when I buy from them. The exceptional service, personal attention, advice and just a general interest in what I am painting is unmatched. Rebecca is a great person to buy from. And I’m very happy to be a small part of her journey. And even happier she is a bigger part of mine.
* Value for money!!! A 750ml tin is £10. You heard! £10. Bigger more known brands can be about £25, or more for the same quantity. So even if you weren’t too sure about trying a newer not that well known brand, you are not breaking your bank!!!! And I promise you, once you try it, you will be addicted!”
Where can people find you?
“If you have any questions about this paint, or have an upcycle project you’ve not got round to and need advice, or want to see my furniture that has been painted in ReColour paints to see how they look and feel before you buy, pop into my shop at The Barras on Kent Street (type Lulu Makes Things in Google Maps and it will bring you to my shop!). I’m open every Sat-Sun 10.30am to 4pm”
You can see Lulu’s amazing creations on Instagram: lulu_makes_things.
Lulu, we’re delighted that you discovered ReColour paint, and that you are so keen to share the love with your community! Thanks for being a stockist and a ReColour Advocate!
