Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Raw materials
Since the company was founded in 1983, we have followed the guiding principles of sustainability: renewability, degradability and social aspects. Our products are therefore consistently ecological, just as our entire corporate activity is holistically oriented.
We are following the idea of “green chemistry” from AURO founder and chemist Dr. Hermann Fischer, which dispenses with petroleum and instead works with sustainable raw materials.
In the development and production of our paints, wood care products and cleaners, we rely on substances that come from plant and mineral sources. Self-cooked soaps and oils from controlled organic cultivation (kbA) such as linseed oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil and coconut oil round off the portfolio. All the original raw materials that we use for our products can be returned to nature’s material cycle after processing, as they are compostable after drying – as are all the woods treated with them.
In the AURO raw materials all the raw materials we use for our products are explained in detail.
As a genuine natural paint manufacturer, we declare our ingredients clearly and in full for the consumer on the product label, on the website and in the technical data sheet. The complete declaration of ingredients is a matter of course at AURO; it illustrates the high quality of our products and the natural raw materials used, which are carefully selected.
In the AURO raw materials you will find all the ingredients we use in full. In our raw material stories we tell you many interesting details about selected raw materials.
Before we select a new raw material for a product series, we conduct intensive research into the properties of the material and the plant. We specifically coordinate the composition of the ingredients. Only by modifying basic materials from nature, combined with our technical knowledge and expertise, can we develop high-quality, high-performance products.
This expertise led to the development of the biogenic binder Replebin®, which consists of plant alcohol esters with organic acids. The raw materials required for this come, for example, from the residues of maize and wheat plants that cannot be used in the food chain. The starch still present in these components is the basis for our raw materials for Replebin® production. Replebin® is used in most paints and plasters.
Wherever it is economically and practically possible, AURO influences the social and environmental conditions of raw material extraction. It is important to us that biodiversity is preserved and that resources can be conserved and used sustainably.
AURO products
AURO paints are just as good to work with as most synthetic paints.
The special feature is the biogenic binder Replebin®, the core component of a paint; it is an essential part of the high-quality and high-performance products. The additives (auxiliaries) required to adjust the functionality of AURO products are also obtained from renewable raw materials such as rapeseed or castor oil. It is the provenance of these key raw materials in particular that sets them apart from conventional paints, which are petrochemically based! Certifications and product tests by independent institutes confirm the high technical quality.
The modern binding agent is used in almost all AURO paints and plasters. This important component guarantees the excellent quality and sustainability of our products.
In addition, the extensive AURO lime range is a purely mineral, environmentally friendly range based on lime putty. The lime products do not contain any preservatives or synthetic additives.
AURO paints therefore create a healthy indoor climate, they are low-emission and breathable. In addition, our products have a pleasant feel, look natural, are aesthetically pleasing and color-fast.
With a unique combination of quality and ecological orientation, we have become the market leader in natural paints and are now represented in almost 30 countries worldwide.
The special feature is the biogenic binder Replebin®, the core component of a color, which is produced by AURO itself and is an essential component of the high-quality and high-performance products. AURO Research & Development is also of crucial importance. With a great deal of passion, the right instinct and knowledge of the best ingredients, it combines natural colors with the highest quality standards.
We are the first paint manufacturer to succeed in developing a machine tinting system for wall paints, varnishes and glazes with consistently environmentally friendly pastes.
In the jungle of colors, it is important to know the criteria that make a real natural color. Many commercially available products are now referred to as natural paints.
In the video How can you recognize a “real” organic paint? you can find out what is important.
The products are also tested in practice. The result is stored as a test seal on the product page. E.G: COLOURS FOR LIFE wall paint, COLOURS FOR LIFE wood stain, Plantoecor® Premium wall and ceiling paint. Stiftung Warentest named AURO Aqua Holzlasur No. 160 the test winner (issue 05/2006, Test Holzlasuren), certifying that the product is of higher quality than the well-known brands of conventional manufacturers.
The biogenic binder Replebin® is used in most paints and plasters and has been extensively tested. This makes the products low-emission and therefore particularly recommended for living spaces.
Biogenicity and emissions by the Bremen Environmental Institute, the biogenicity of the binder Replebin by the Fresenius Institute and according to the AgBB assessment scheme.
See also Certifications and products.
Otherproducts made from natural raw materials are not completely odorless. The essential oil used as a solvent or to prevent skin formation, for example, has an intense fragrance that many customers find very pleasant. It is associated with the smell of a peeled orange or a Christmassy freshness. However, some customers react somewhat sensitively to it. It is therefore important that natural products are sufficiently ventilated for some time afterwards.
Most products are based on vegetable and mineral raw materials, very few contain raw materials of animal origin. These are beeswax, casein, lactic acid, shellac and cochineal. All vegan products are marked with the “vegan” icon and can be found on the AURO website and on the label.
You will also find the raw materials used in the full declaration.
Sustainability & social commitment
40 years of practiced sustainability! At AURO, sustainable management and environmental protection are not a fad, but a corporate culture that has been practiced from the very beginning.
Topics such as the extraction of raw materials in harmony with nature, climate-friendly production or research for the best possible products, through to our unique sustainability principle can be found in our sustainability report.
The report also provides facts and figures on our environmental policy, social responsibility and environmental management. In addition to energy and material indicators, interesting information about our company history, structure and location is also provided.
AURO assumes social responsibility and is involved in many projects, e.g:
- German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union NABU
For people and nature – this common motto has united the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) and AURO for almost 40 years.
NABU has been working for people and nature for over a hundred years with convincing commitment, expertise and around 875,000 members. As a pioneer in the field of ecological natural paints, AURO is also committed to environmental protection and nature conservation. The protection of species, the preservation of forests and other ecosystems are important to us. By supporting various projects, we are setting an example that environmentally friendly products and sustainable production processes alone are not enough.
NABU Board of Trustees with AURO founder Dr. Hermann Fischer
Dr. Hermann Fischer has been closely associated with NABU for a long time; he has served as an honorary member of the NABU Executive Committee for many years. The AURO founder has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2019; the committee advises the Executive Board on key socio-political issues and supports it in its efforts to engage in dialog with other social groups on environmental policy goals and strategies.
Exclusive cooperation between AURO and NABU International
Elephant conservation in Tanzania – International projects primarily include projects that involve local people and contribute to sustainable development. AURO exclusively supports the work of the NABU International Nature Conservation Foundation. Human-wildlife conflicts are to be minimized near the Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania. Humans and elephants have lived together there for centuries. However, as more and more land is being used for agriculture, the population is increasing and the traditional habitats of humans and animals are becoming smaller, conflicts are inevitable. In order to reduce conflicts with elephants, the population is involved. The TANZANIAN ELEPHANT FOUNDATION is committed to a gentle method of dealing with elephants. To protect crops from the pachyderms, beehive fences are built, migratory elephants are tagged as migration routes need to be kept clear, an early warning system is set up for local communities and environmental education is provided in schools and other institutions. You can find more information about the project here or on pages 37 and 38 of the AURO Sustainability Report.
NABU International with support from the NABU Business Initiative
Protecting the gray cranes in Rwanda
NABU International, with the support of the NABU Business Initiative, of which AURO is also a member, has been committed to the protection of the gray crowned crane in Rwanda for many years, in recent years mainly in the Rugezi wetland and in Umusambi Village near Kigali. Volunteer rangers monitor the Rugezi Marsh around the clock to protect cranes from poachers and to monitor the population. In addition to bird protection measures, renaturation measures are also being carried out on Rugezi Marsh. Preserving the wetland not only provides a habitat for rare plants and birds, but also contributes to climate protection. See page 39 of the AURO Sustainability Report.
education biotropical
We support the organization “education biotropical”, which is re-cultivating an area of rainforest west of the Andes that has been 96% destroyed. With this project, AURO is also supporting the Shuar Indians, who traditionally produce and use the dye IPIAK. The red dye Achiote is called “Ipiak” by the Shuar Indians and is obtained by grinding the oil seeds of the Annato shrub in the Amazon lowlands in Ecuador. Ipiak is used by AURO as a raw material as a supplementary pigment in the wall glaze plant color. You can find more information in the raw material history.
B.A.U.M. e.V.
AURO is an active member of the “Bundesdeutscher Arbeitskreis für Umweltbewusstes Management e.V.” (B.A.U.M.). The working group successfully combines economic, ecological and social issues, i.e. the principles of sustainability, in a future-oriented manner. Today, with around 550 members, B.A.U.M. is the largest environmental initiative in business in Europe. In addition to many well-known companies, associations and institutions are also supporting members and recognize the B.A.U.M. code of honor for environmentally conscious corporate management.
With the use of renewable raw materials, AURO has been a pioneer in active climate protection for decades: plant materials are climate-neutral per se, as they bind exactly the same amount of CO2 over their entire life cycle as is released during their decomposition.
- Delivery with CO2-neutral parcel service
We send many parcels of paint to our specialist dealers and trade customers every day.
As the logistics industry is a major CO2 emitter, the parcel service DPD takes responsibility and delivers all parcels in a climate-neutral way. By “insetting” DPD reduces CO2 emissions through internal measures. Unavoidable CO2 emissions are offset by external projects, the transparency of which is guaranteed. - Energy
AURO has been using green electricity since 2012. Supplemented by the photovoltaic system on the company roof, AURO now works exclusively with electricity from renewable energy sources.
Order & advice
We sell our products through specialist retailers who offer expert advice and good local service. You can find them in our dealer search engine. If there is not yet a retailer in your area, you can use online retailers on the Internet. AURO operates its own online store at store.auro.de.
We deliver orders from dealers to AURO within 2-3 working days, usually even faster. In an emergency, we can also deliver overnight by express delivery (at additional cost) (only products that are not declared as dangerous goods). Or you can order the product on the Internet from an online retailer or in our online shop store.auro.de (see previous question).
You can obtain advice from your specialist dealer or directly from AURO. AURO laboratory staff will answer your questions on the phone at 0531- 281 41 41 (Mon-Thu 9-12 and 14-16 hrs | Fri 9-12 hrs) or by e-mail at support@auro.de.
Please understand that the line is very busy, we answer every inquiry in detail – this sometimes requires a slightly longer phone call.
For customers of our online shop store.auro.de the service hotline is available on 0531- 281 41 95 from Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm.
If you are in the vicinity of Braunschweig, then it is worth visiting our Store & Showroom for direct advice on site. (Alte Frankfurter Straße 211 A, 38122 Braunschweig, opening hours: Mon-Thu 8am-5pm and Fri 8am-3pm, lunch break 12.15pm-12.45pm)
We do not offer a factory outlet, but in our AURO Store & Showroom at our main location in Braunschweig you can buy AURO products. You can find the exact opening hours of the store here.
Shades & patterns
You can find our color fans, color cards and samples locally at most retailers, who also offer expert advice and good service. Please use our dealer search. All color shades can also be viewed digitally, such as our COLOURS FOR LIFE shades and various color charts, which are stored with the product itself.
Many other colors can be mixed, we offer the production of special colors as a special service (with a small surcharge). Just get in touch with us.
Allergies
Every allergy sufferer reacts differently to different substances. In order to find out which ingredients a product contains, we have always focused on transparency for our customers. The composition stated on the product labels tells you which raw materials were used to manufacture the product and whether the product is suitable for you. You can also find all the raw materials used in the full declaration on our website and in the technical data sheets. The current full declaration can be found in the product information in the description of the individual product, e.g. AURO Wall Paint No. 321 or AURO Professional Lime Paint No. 344
There is virtually no substance to which people cannot have an allergic reaction. We receive a large number of consumer inquiries on this subject and have had the most common wall paint products tested for allergenicity by the Institute for Environment and Health (IUG). After intensive testing, all the products submitted were rated extremely positively and received the IUG’s “Allergy-friendly” product seal –
in particular due to the absence of allergens and the absence of
health-critical binding agents. The certificate applies to products no. 331, 321, 505, 506, 301, 307, 308 and 303.
Our wall paint products no longer contain essential oils. If you suffer from allergies, you can find out about our ingredients by accessing the full declaration in the product information for each product.
Security
AURO is one of the first manufacturers to implement the amended requirements of the EN 71-3 standard for toy safety by producing all products cobalt-free. With this leap in quality, we are remedying an old point of criticism: the dry substance cobalt, which was previously considered to be without alternative. By replacing cobalt with a new development, we are now offering a new generation of future-proof toy coatings that comply with both EN 71-3 and DIN 53160 (welding and saliva resistant). For example COLOURS FOR LIFE lacquer, glossy no. 516 and matt no. 517can be mixed in over 1000 shades. COLOURS FOR LIFE Wood Stain No. 560, can be mixed in 65 shades, Aqua White Lacquer No. 250-90, Aqua White Lacquer No. 260-90, Aqua Wood Stain No. 160, PurSolid Hard Oil No. 123, Hard Oil No. 126. All certificates can be found here.
AURO wood coatings do not contain any blue stain protection. According to the current EU directive, only a few fungicides are permitted as blue stain protection, but many of these are classified as toxic or hazardous to health. These substances do not meet the strict requirements for raw materials for AURO products. Their use is questionable from an ecological and toxicological point of view. In addition, the necessity of using blue stain protection in terms of building physics is currently the subject of much debate.
As a rule, AURO products have an almost neutral and therefore harmless pH value. If products have a very high or low pH value due to their composition (e.g. wood lyes or lime products), we point this out on the labels and in the technical data sheets in accordance with current legislation and recommend appropriate precautionary and protective measures for processing.
Biocides subject to registration are used in our anti-mold products Shimmer Remover No. 412, Mildew-Stop No. 413 and the Anti-Mildew Paint No. 327
All three products are registered as biocidal products for use in the European Union with the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (baua) in accordance with the ChemBiozidMeldeV. The biocide registration documents can be found in the product information under Certificates.
Processing of the products
The technical data sheet or The topic for more information on processing can be found on the respective product pageunder Data sheets and downloads.
The oil should not run into material joints, recesses or similar, as drying in these areas is considerably delayed. Apply the product evenly by brushing or rolling, do not pour on the surface. For poorly absorbent substrates, dilute with max. 20% AURO Thinner No. 191* if necessary. In the case of highly absorbent substrates (or areas), re-saturate the removed hard oil several times wet-on-wet (up to 2 times). The excess (oil), the excess material that has not penetrated, must be rubbed in evenly with a non-linting cloth, beige or white pad, or similar, before it dries, at the latest within 30 minutes, and then completely removed. On flat, even substrates, use a (stainless) spatula or squeegee to pull together the excess material for better removal. The application instructions can be found in the technical data sheet for the product.
Although the important instruction “remove excess” is written on the labels, this is one of the most common application errors.
