In the context of growing environmental awareness, furniture lacquer appears to be in a challenging position. The concept of "eco-friendly furniture" has become a key selling point for both sellers and consumers. "Besides the wood itself, furniture lacquer is also an essential part of the eco-friendly furniture concept," explained one expert. This is primarily due to the production, usage, and emission characteristics of the lacquer.
However, during an investigation into the furniture lacquer industry chain, it became clear that some professionals lacked a thorough understanding of the subject. One company, Guangdong Caiyan, challenged the common perception that baking paint is not environmentally friendly.
"At the North Fourth Ring Store of Real Home in Beijing, sales staff from several well-known brands claimed that baking paint is the least eco-friendly option. However, brands like Ou Rui Furniture and Dynasty Furniture use such paints. When we contacted the Ou Rui Furniture Administration Department at Hong Kong Xingli Group, they responded, 'That’s nonsense.' A staff member explained, 'We use UV baking paint, which is a new type of water-soluble paint with no harmful emissions. Ou Rui is a listed company with 27 years of experience in furniture manufacturing, and we have sent samples to national quality inspection departments for testing to confirm compliance.'"
"There are many types of paints on the market, and some are imitations. That may be why some people think paints are not eco-friendly," the staff added.
Lin Zhuoneng, business director of Jiangmen Huangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd. under Guangdong Caiyan Group, emphasized that "baking paint is a category of furniture paint. Whether it's eco-friendly depends on whether the chemical substances used meet national standards."
Li Wenqing, head of the technical department at Jiangmen MMS Chemical Co., Ltd., agreed. "Currently, there are two main types of paints in the domestic furniture market: oil-based and water-based. Oil-based paints include PU, PE, NC, and UV coatings. About 80% of wooden furniture uses PU paint, which is widely recognized. However, baking paint is also a traditional type used on hardware and sometimes on wood furniture."
He further noted, "Guangdong Caiyan Group has been a long-term partner of IKEA, supplying them with furniture paint and providing technical support. Based on our extensive experience, there is no worst-case scenario with baking paint. Even PU paint contains toxic substances like toluene and xylene. To determine if a paint is eco-friendly, you need to refer to specific standards, not just the type of paint."
According to Lin Zhuoneng, "The production of furniture coatings must strictly follow national standards like GB18581-2009 or European regulations. While the overall environmental performance of domestic furniture paints still lags behind Europe, PU paint remains popular in China due to its good gloss, hardness, and ease of application. In Europe, however, it has been largely replaced by UV paint, which cures quickly under ultraviolet light without releasing volatile substances."
Despite this, he pointed out, "The biggest environmental issues with furniture paints often arise from the painting process itself—specifically, how the paint is applied in factories. Improper spraying can lead to air pollution and harm workers’ health."
Zhu Changling, an industry expert, highlighted that "in the past, many factories sprayed paint outdoors, leading to poor quality and environmental contamination. Paint mist containing harmful substances like lead, chromium, toluene, and xylene could enter workers' bodies through inhalation."
However, he added, "From my understanding, most domestic furniture manufacturers now comply with safety regulations." At Shuangye Furniture's Beijing Direct Sales Center, a staff member confirmed that their furniture is painted in a fully enclosed spray room with a safety production license issued by the State Administration of Work Safety.
Still, challenges remain. Some manufacturers apply topcoat before the primer dries, causing lingering paint odors. Others use low-quality paint, leading to long-term release of harmful substances.
On June 13, our reporter visited Qumei Furniture Co., Ltd. in Beijing but was turned away by a security officer. After contacting Sun Fei, the manager in charge of safety, he said, "I’m not responsible for this. I don’t understand these details. I’ll find someone else to contact you after returning to the company." No one answered. (Litian)
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