5 ways to be a more sustainable painter

New year, new goals, new color obsession you’re definitely about to paint your living room with.

If you’re entering January with “be a better human” vibes, recycle more, waste less, drink water, maybe finally tackle that DIY project, etc. etc. then we’ve got one more resolution to add to your list:

Become a more sustainable painter.

Don’t worry. We’re not asking you to churn your own paint from organic moss or anything dramatic (but we’re here for it if that’s your thing). Being eco-friendly in your painting projects is really about making simple, smarter swaps that are better for the planet and your toolbox.

And since we’re Repaint Studios (aka: masterminds of The Repaint Tray, your favorite reusable painting sidekick), we’re kicking things off with our favorite sustainability MVP…

1. Start with The Repaint Tray, the reusable paint tray you’ll use again (and again… and again)

Let’s talk about plastic paint trays. They crack. They warp. They get tossed after one or two uses. They haunt landfills for eternity like tiny, rectangular ghosts.

Yeah… not great.

That’s exactly why we created The Repaint Tray, a durable, reusable, “I’m-never-going-back-to-disposable” paint tray designed to last across projects, colors, rooms, and impulsive weekend makeover ideas.

Unlike flimsy single-use trays, the Repaint Tray is a smarter upgrade:

Peel out the paint, wash, and reuse again and again
Built to handle multiple projects
Keeps paint fresh for up to 3 weeks with it's air-tight lid
Cuts down on plastic waste (hello, eco-friendly)
Durable, professional, and DIY-approved
Keeps trash-day guilt out of your paint routine

It’s the sustainability upgrade that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It feels like a glow-up and we see you, queen!

2. Recycle your leftover paint with GreenSheen

We all have that one shelf in the garage that is a mysterious collection of half-used paint cans in colors like “Almost White,” “Kind of Beige,” and “I Swear I’ll Use This Someday.”

Enter GreenSheen paint recycling — the real-life solution for leftover paint that isn’t usable anymore. GreenSheen collects leftover latex paint and recycles it into new, high-quality, eco-friendly paint that’s resold for reuse instead of ending up in a landfill.

Think of it as a second chance for paint that has lost its purpose (but not its potential).

Here’s how:

1. Gather your old latex paint cans

2. Make sure the paint is still liquid (not dried up, not chunky)

3. Find a local GreenSheen drop-off partner or event

4. Drop off your paint

From there, GreenSheen:

Filters and reprocesses the paint
Blends it into new colors
Packages it as recycled paint
Puts it back out into the world for reuse

Boom. Waste reduced. Planet happier. Garage shelf free of shameful paint cans.

It’s one of the best eco-friendly painting habits you can adopt and honestly, it just feels good.

3. Swap plastic drop cloths for a reusable canvas one

Plastic drop cloths are the chaos gremlins of painting supplies. They’re slippery. They tear. They sound like a crinkly snack bag every time you move. And after one project? Straight to the trash.

Canvas drop cloths, however? Elite. Smart. Responsible. Main-character energy.

Canvas drop cloths are:

Reusable for years
More durable and stable
Less slippery (goodbye sliding ladders)
Washable
Way more eco-friendly

Plus, and we’re just saying, they make you look like a legit pro painter on a home reno show. Sustainable AND stylish? We love to see it.

4. Buy only the paint you actually need

We love paint; we really do. But buying way more than you need creates:

Waste
Storage clutter
More paint to recycle later
A growing collection of random colors you forgot existed

Plus, buying only what you need is a super easy sustainability win. Start by measuring your space, then use a paint coverage calculator (or ask your paint store for help if math feels… optional). Right-sizing your paint order means less environmental impact, less money wasted, less clutter to store later, and more intentional projects overall — plus fewer judgmental leftover paint cans staring at you from a garage shelf.