Most of the other widely available Timber Finishes are NOT based on Plant Oil Technology. Whilst some may claim to contain some Tung or other Natural Oils, they are often mixed with less costly chemical ingredients. Many of these chemicals have associated health and safety risks, as well as being harmful to the environment. These include:

PETROCHEMICAL BASED INGREDIENTS. At the end of their life cycle all petrochemical products basically have the same environmental impact as an equivalent amount burnt to create energy. The carbon in these petrochemicals becomes CO2 that cannot naturally re-enter the natural cycle and thus contributes to global warming.
SYNTHETIC POLYMERS are used in most locally available Timber Finishes, both Oil and Water based. These Synthetic Polymers generally come from petrochemical sources. Most locally available Timber Finishes have a content of between 10% and 30% listed on their Material Safety Data Sheets.
LIQUID HYDROCARBONS like Kerosene, Naptha, White Spirits, Xylene and Benzene come from unsustainable and dwindling fossil fuel resources. Despite their documented health risks, they are a core ingredient of the mainstream Oil based products.
OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS which are too numerous to list here can be found in most other Timber Finishes. Even water based Timber Finishes contain potentially harmful chemicals with biocidal properties. Some of these chemicals have been documented as Cardiovascular, Liver, Kidney, Respiratory, Reproductive and Developmental toxicants.

RESEARCHING WHAT'S IN OTHER TIMBER FINISHES

The first step is to obtain the latest Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of the product you are considering. These MSDS are generally available from the manufacturer's website. Alternatively, you can simply contact us, as we have most of this information on file.

Once you have obtained the MSDS, there are a number of sources on the Internet where you can search for the documented Environmental and Health Risks of its ingredients. To ensure your search is accurate, we suggest you search on the CAS Number, if it has been published by the manufacturer. If not, simply enter the Chemical's name.

We also recommend you conduct your research with Global, US or European sources. The Health and Environmental legislation and reporting requirements in Australia are not as rigorous as those in Europe and North America. It is interesting to note that lead based paint was still able to be legally sold in Australia until March 31st 2008. Some useful research sources are:

TOXNET is the Toxicology Data Network from the United States National Library of Medicine, a collection of toxicology and environmental health databases.

SCORECARD is a Not for Profit Environmental site in the USA. There is a search box at the bottom left of the page, where you can enter the CAS number or name of the potentially toxic chemical you wish to research. As well as Environmental information, Scorecard also shows recognized and potential health hazards.

INCHEM is produced by the International Program on Chemical Safety, a joint initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the and the United Nations (UN) Environment Program and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Unlike most other Timber Finishes, Ecowoodoil is made only from Natural Ingredients, which are far more friendly to you and your family's health, as well as to the Environment.