Helping artists make sustainable choices

Being sustainable means making the best decisions in the interests of people and our environment so that everybody can thrive, now and in the future.

As a company that produces high-quality paints, materials and tools, being sustainable isn’t easy. But we have a responsibility to act. In fact, our customers expect us to. We’re committed not only to reducing our environmental impact through innovation in climate action and packaging, but also to supporting artists in making informed, responsible choices. This includes developing products that are safe to use in the studio, workspace or at home, and being transparent about the materials we use, including where some ingredients may be animal-derived. Above all, we aim to support creative communities and make art accessible to everyone.

Proud to be a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp)

We are a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp), joining a global movement of businesses committed to social and environmental responsibility. B Corp Certification is a rigorous assessment of a company’s impact, ensuring high standards of transparency, accountability, and sustainability. Winsor & Newton earned this certification through its commitment to reducing environmental impact—focusing on renewable energy and waste, reusing water, reducing unnecessary packaging, and creating cleaner products — while supporting the art community. This achievement reflects our ongoing mission to help artists make sustainable choices while contributing to a more inclusive and regenerative future.

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Our recycling program

Winsor & Newton has partnered with TerraCycle® to offer you a free and easy way to recycle your used paint tubes and Promarkers

Coming soon

What are we doing?

Creating Cleaner Products

We refine colour formulations, removing unnecessary ingredients to ensure safety for artists and the environment. Tackling cadmium, a valued yet hard-to-replicate heavy metal, we now offer Professional Watercolours in cadmium-free alternatives with the same performance. Our Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colours provide an environmentally considerate option, requiring only water for cleanup. Likewise, Artisan Varnish Remover safely removes varnish for cleaning and re-varnishing.

Reduce Unnecessary Packaging

We prioritise sustainable packaging, increasing recycled content wherever possible. Our transition to 100% recycled plastic for oil colour and watercolour mediums, varnish, and solvent bottles—covering 352 products—eliminates the use of virgin plastic. This change prevents an estimated 248 tonnes of plastic from reaching landfill annually, reinforcing our commitment to reducing environmental impact and promoting more responsible material use.

Renewable energy and waste

Energy fuels the production of our high-quality products, but its use generates greenhouse gases that drive climate change. To reduce our impact, we are cutting energy consumption across manufacturing sites and offices while increasing reliance on renewable sources. Solar panels support our European and UK sites, and we are committed to Science Based Targets. We are striving for zero waste across all manufacturing sites to further minimise environmental impact.

Community Matters

We recognise art’s impact on wellbeing and are dedicated to supporting artists. In early 2023, we began donating acrylic paint and brushes to Hospital Rooms’ online digital art schools. These supplies reach 50 inpatient mental health units each term, enabling approximately 1,800 patient sessions across the UK. Through this initiative, we help provide creative opportunities that foster expression, healing, and a sense of community for those in care.

Case studies

TerraCycle recycling program

An easy way for artists to ensure their empty paint tubes and markets don't end up in landfill or incinerators. TerraCycle is Eliminating the Idea Of Waste®, transforming trash into raw materials, building global reuse systems, and proving that creativity and sustainability go hand in hand.

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Hospital Rooms

We help bring dignity, comfort and community to patients across the UK through our work with Hospital Rooms. Creative opportunities are fostered and mental health environments transformed through installations and artwork by leading global artists.

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International Art Prize

The International Art Prize places artists across the world on a global platform to showcase their talent. Winners receive materials, mentorship opportunities and exposure in the art community.

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100% recycled plastic packaging

Our goal is to eliminate virgin plastic and transition to 100% recycled plastic packaging. This initiative is cutting waste sent to landfills, with the change already made across Watercolour and Oil Colour sets and mediums bottles.

Waste2Wear

We’ve teamed up with pioneers in innovative plastic recycling Waste2Wear to create a 100% sustainable wallet for our Promarker collection. Crafted from recycled materials, it’s also completely free from plastic film.

Alternative materials

Discover environmentally considerate alternatives without compromising on quality with Cadmium-free Professional Watercolours and Artists’ Oil Colours. Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colours clean up easily with just water – no harsh solvents needed. Plus, you can now match the feel and quality of traditional sable and hog brushes with our more sustainable synthetic brushes.

100% recyclable cardboard packaging

Many products now come wrapped in 100% recyclable cardboard and FSC-certified packaging, particularly in our Graphic Art Range, with Promarker, Fineliner and Pencil sets.

Ingredient Transparency

We understand that some artists wish to avoid animal-derived ingredients for ethical, vegan or religious reasons. While most Winsor & Newton materials are free from such ingredients, a few products contain small amounts of animal-derived components used to deliver the highest levels of performance. For example, some Watercolours include ox gall, a purified by-product of the meat industry that improves pigment flow. None of these materials are hazardous or required by regulation to appear on packaging. We are reviewing how to make this information more visible online to help artists make fully informed choices. For more information, please contact customerservice@winsornewton.com.