Andrew Meyer believes that he’s found a “whey” to help Vermont’s dairy farms by turning their cheesemaking byproduct into an eco-friendly wood finish.
Like other water-based substitutes for traditional (oil-based) polyurethane, Vermont Natural Coatings‘ PolyWhey dries fast and emits no toxic fumes. It releases very low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), about one-quarter the amount released by some polyurethanes. Unlike other waterborne finishes, its hardness makes it a viable option for professional-grade work, experts say.
Building Green, a private publisher that researches green building products and practices for contractors and policymakers, named PolyWhey one of its Top 10 products in 2008. “I’m not aware of any other clear coating that combines its high level of performance with such low VOC emissions.”
(READ the story at CS Monitor)