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Recently
Conscious Design Magazine had the privilege to interview Rudolf Reitz, founder
of the BioShield Paint Company. If you know healthy homes and healthy paint, BioShield
is a familiar name to you. The interview was insightful in many ways. I learned
more about paint than I could imagine, as Rudolf's passion to create healthy,
yet useful and beautiful products, is clearly his life path. I also learned the
value of teaching and living your beliefs. Rudolf attributed his knowledge and
enthusiasm for healthy products to the lifestyle and ethics of his parents. His
mother was his inspiration. I am reminded again that creating one ripple, healing
one child, leads to healing a community, a city, a country, and the world. BioShield
was born from such a ripple.
Renae Jensen- President Conscious Design Magazine
The
BioShield Paint Company is a world leader in the industry, providing a collection
of paints, stains, waxes and thinners made primarily from naturally-derived raw
materials including citrus peel extracts, essential oils, seed oils, tree resins,
inert mineral fillers, tree and bee waxes, lead-free dryers and natural pigments.
Rudolf Reitz, founder
of the BioShield Paint Company, is an environmental pioneer and entrepreneur,
easily 25 years ahead of his time and the current green movement. We asked Rudolf
if he was introduced to green strategies as a child, or was his environmental
awareness something acquired later in life? His answer:
"I
grew up "green." My mother raised me with home grown foods and organic
garden and used anything but conventional medicine. As teenagers we were vegetarians
- purists." The
parent company of Bio Shield is the Eco Design Company founded in 1982 with a
focus on natural wood finishes and paints and fine woodworking tools. Rudolf's
parents were building a green home in Germany in the 1980s. Rudolf recognized
the opportunity to bring a new and needed product into the American marketplace.
"My Mother was a pioneer in healthy building. I said
"Wow, this is something for America." By
the early 1990s, Rudolf's focus turned to specializing in wall finishes and paints,
wood stains and waxes, creating the birth of Bio Shield. Bio Shield's first product
was a Penetrating Oil Sealer and remains one of their most popular products. Other
very popular products are their high tech clay paints. Conventional
paints can be made with up to 10,000 chemicals and a high level of VOCs - volatile
organic compounds. Bio Shield has fewer than 250 chemical components and more
than 98 percent of those chemicals are naturally derived from plant sources and
minerals and are zero VOC. What does that mean in a home, school or office building?
What does that mean in the environment? The side effects of using toxic products
are many as Rudolf said, "Indoor air pollution, smog
in cities, and respiratory problems are just a few of the concerns." Bio
Shield has created Kinder Paint, a paint targeted for children's areas. Rudolf
said: "Kinder paint is a high-end wall paint - no VOCs,
water based and washable. It does not contain preservatives and, when applied
over the same color, covers in one coat." From
an interior design viewpoint, we were curious about the variety of colors and
textures available. We discovered that BioShield has a beautiful color selection,
offers a booklet of 136 Designer colors, and is experiencing a huge revival of
clay as a wall texture. Rudolf said "Clay is an incredible
material, great for absorbing natural light and creating a living color effect."
Depending on the light, the color on the walls changes bringing
in a unique element of movement and life. Rudolf
Reitz is always researching and creating ways to solve problems and create healthy
products. Bio Shield's future will include more new products such as Zero VOC
deck products, an expanded line of Clay colors, and informative video's and demos.
Rudolf said that one of the vital concerns is in how to deal with mold. Who
uses Bio Shield? Rudolf explained that their client base is very broad.
Some
come out of need due to severe reactions to toxic chemicals, allergies, and illness.
A high percentage of Bio Shield's loyal clients are what is described as the LOHAS
market - customers dedicated to a Life of Health & Sustainability.
Bio Shield offers
a commitment to the community with special discount programs for schools and hospitals.
They offer a large local donation program. They are proud of their dedication
to service with an informed customer care center to answer questions and provide
information. We asked Rudolf
to share his thoughts about the current green movement. He said "It
is important to point out what is right and what is not. We distinguish ourselves
by the quality of the product and what we offer." We
wanted to know why he felt that BioShield should be our first choice. His answer
was simply: "We are the best choice you can make -
Purity - We walk the talk." Also,
if you are wondering, we did ask Rudolf "What is your favorite color?"
He didn't hesitate. His answer was "Oranges: Yellowish
colors & Burnt Orange."
Rudolf feels that oranges bring
in a spiritual connection.
We also know that orange relates to community spirit
and connection, energy
truly connected with Rudolf Reitz. Conscious
Design Magazine would like to thank Rudolf for his time and his company's dedication
to quality and healing. As Rudolf says: "They Walk the Talk." Contact
Information:
BioShield Paint Company
3215 Rufina Street
Santa Fe,
NM 87507
United States
1-800-621-2591
Fax: (505) 438-0199
www.bioshieldpaint.com If
you'd like to hear our live conversation and interview, we were presented with
this link:
http://www.swindy.org/interview-with-rudolp-and-renae-for-conscious-design-magazine/
BioShield's
Love Letters
Thank
you for the update on our order. I just wanted to take the time to
say that
I LOVE YOUR PRODUCTS! I had ordered some glaze, pigments, and
high white milk
paint from you a few weeks ago. I painted my children's
bedroom using the Lazure
painting technique and it turned out BEAUTIFUL!
Your products gave me the exact
painting medium I was looking for to achieve exactly what I wanted to achieve.
It also makes me feel really good to know that my two two-year old girls will
be sleeping in a room free off
off-gassing paint. Thanks for being out there!
Kind
Regards,
D. Mollen _____________________________________________________________
We
are really impressed with the quality, ease of use, and final result of your clay
paint. There was very little odor during application, and clean up only took a
matter of a few minutes (you couldn't even tell I had used the roller or paint
brush. They rinsed that easily!!!) We recommended your product to several of our
friends, and even referred a paint supplier to your website! We are also going
to order another color of clay paint for a house project.
Thank you,
S.
Sheets
I
just ordered your floor soap and floor milk. I just moved into an old house and
the hardwood floors appear to be oak waxed floors. They were in good shape just
lacking luster and needed to be cleaned. After using these products the floor
looks like I just had it installed! Easy to use, no odor, and inexpensive compared
to the floor products on the shelf today. I have a dog and did not want to be
overwhelmed in toxins. I came to the right place!
I can not say enough
about your products and service. I am about to order a sealer and paint for my
living room ceiling today. You have a customer for life!
Sincerely,
J.
Black
I wanted to
write and let you know I recently painted a friend's
kitchen cabinets with
your milk paints, sealed them with your wall
glaze and used the milk paint
to tint earthen plasters for the walls.
It's
really gorgeous, if I do say so myself. Your paints were just pure
pleasure
to use, a delight. I'm starting a little faux painting
business specializing
in natural products. I was heartened when I pitched your paints to my friend and
first client here that she was so excited about them. Anyway...thank
you so much!
V. Clark
I
just wanted to drop you a note and let you know I recently purchased several of
your paints and wax and found them to be excellent in terms of the quality, color,
application, and finish that I was trying to achieve for this prototype piece
of furniture. I will continue to use them for additional pieces on am working
on.
Best Regards,
K.
Oakes
Rudolf,
your paint arrived in one day and I painted the bathroom almost 'til midnight.
What an incredible product! Fabulous coverage, smooth, easy on the bikoff beak
& schnozolla. I can't thank you enough!
P.
Bikoff
Amrita,
I felt it necessary to take a few minutes to let you know how very much I appreciated
working with you regarding our floor. Our project presented some difficulties
and when I contacted you I couldn't have asked for better customer service. Something
not so common these days, but so very much appreciated. Have a great day!
Sincerely,
B. Pfeffer
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