Orbit Homes is trialing environmentally friendly paint from social enterprise, Paint360, as part of its environmental programme, Orbit Earth.

Paint360 has been partnered with Orbit since 2016, providing recycled paint for use in the housing groups rental properties. The organisation is now taking that a stage further by trailing Paint360 on its new-build homes, with a whole house trial at Riverside Place in Kent and Newlands in Norfolk. This follows a successful pilot at Orbit Homes’ the Hedgerows development in Hellingly late last year.

Paint360 re-engineers waste paint back into brand-new paint with each litre containing a minimum 50% recycled content. Unwanted paint is received from main manufacturers, waste management companies, councils and contractors, increasing recycling rates and delivering a true closed loop service. As a social enterprise, Paint360 is committed to creating job opportunities for young people with barriers to employment as the core of its workforce.

Commenting on the trial, Group Director of Orbit Homes, Helen Moore said: “Each year the UK generates over 55 million litres of waste paint, the majority of which is incinerated and only 2% is reused. As a result, we wanted to minimise the environmental impact of the paint we use in our homes, and by working with Paint360, we are able to reduce our carbon footprint and support the valuable work the organisation does in breaking down barriers to employment.”

Lee Cole, Managing Director and Co-founder of Paint360, added: “I want to thank Orbit for its continued support and belief in our company. Orbit has been on a journey with us since the beginning, and it is thanks to trail-blazers like them, that we are now able to supply many other organisations with recycled paint, which in turn, has a positive impact on the environment.”

Earlier this month, Paint360 was announced as this year’s community hero winner in Orbit’s annual Thriving Communities Awards. Paint360 was presented with the Orbit Earth Award which recognises an Orbit customer, contractor or employee who has developed a project to make a positive impact on the environment. The company received £1,000 worth of funding to help ensure it can continue to make a sustainable change in the future.