Interior paints: Not all green logos mean the same thing

Consumer Reports newest Ratings of interior paints include many subpar low- and no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints along with those that made our winners' circle. You'll also find a growing array of green logos, although some of those certifications are self-awarded. A new Asthma & Allergy Friendly certification is among the ones you'll see when shopping for paint. Here's a guide to six of the most common green labels.

Asthma & Allergy Friendly
This one comes from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The foundation measures VOCs emitted during application and prohibits certain harmful chemicals. Companies pay $7,500 or more to have paints tested and use the logo. Among tested paints, Valspar + has it.

Greenguard
This group allows only trace levels of VOCs, including formaldehyde and styrene. Manufacturers measure emissions from drying paint and pay $3,000 or more to Greenguard for testing and to use the logo.

Green Seal
This group limits VOCs, bars certain other hazardous substances, and assesses performance. Companies pay $2,500 to $9,500 to have paints evaluated and use the Green Seal logo.

Green Wise
This certification limits VOCs and odors and prohibits certain chemicals. As part of their membership fee, companies have products tested by the Coatings Research Group, an industry organization. Three Royal Interiors by Ace paints we tested have it.

GreenSure
This one was created by Sherwin-Williams, is self-regulated, and covers only the company's own products. Paints must have VOCs of 50 grams per liter or less and be free of certain other chemical substances and meet durability requirements. Sherwin-Williams Duration has it but scored low in our tests.

Green Promise
This is from Benjamin Moore and covers its products, which are tested in third-party, certified labs to meet the requirements of Greenguard and other protocols. The high-scoring Aura, Natura, and Regal Select have it.

—Ed Perratore