ColorINDO: Social Transformation through House Painting
The ColorINDO project, supported by the Minas Gerais State Research Support Foundation (FAPEMIG), aims to develop paints using granite waste as pigment and apply them to houses in the Viçosa microregion. From this perspective, ColorINDO was organized into two phases: research and extension, and has scholarship students from the Civil Engineering and Architecture courses.
The main objective of the research phase (2023) was to develop a paint that meets the abrasion resistance and coverage power criteria established by ABNT NBR 15078:2006 and ABNT NBR 14942:2022, respectively. To achieve this, several marble quarries in the Viçosa microregion were mapped for waste collection. Samples of paints were made with the collected and sieved material, and the coverage power and abrasion resistance of each sample were evaluated. It was found that the mixture with a proportion of 44% waste, 35% water, and 21% resin met the standards established by the norms.
The extension phase (2024 e 2025) aims to use all the previously collected waste to manufacture paints and apply them to low-income homes in the Viçosa microregion. To this end, a mapping of the residences and the preparation of the waste for paint manufacturing are being carried out. In parallel, other activities are being developed, such as budgeting and purchasing materials, as well as developing educational material teaching the manufacture of paints.
The ColorINDO project is an innovative and sustainable initiative that has the potential to transform the lives of low-income families in the Viçosa microregion. By using granite waste to manufacture paints, the project reduces the environmental impact of the construction industry and provides affordable housing solutions. The project also promotes social inclusion and community development by involving local residents in the painting process.
The following link provides a detailed explanation of the process carried out during the first phase of the project:
