What’s in the Finish of Your Laptop Trolley?

It wasn’t that long ago that we dis­cov­ered the dangers of lead based paints.
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Exposure to lead based paints has been linked to decreased in­tel­li­gence scores, learning dis­abil­i­ties, attention deficit disorder (ADD), hy­per­ac­tiv­i­ty, problems with memory and many other more serious chronic illnesses.
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The rec­om­mend­ed amount of lead in domestic paint has declined from 50% before 1965, to 1% in 1965. In 1992, it was reduced to 0.25%, and in 1997 it was further reduced to 0.1%. In reality it is best to avoid lead based paints entirely.
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In recent time we’ve learnt that lead paints had been used in imported toys. These toys were quickly removed from sale and recalled. These incidents have high­light­ed the fact that many countries have little or no guide­lines on the use of lead based paints and, even if they do, they may not be enforced.
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This should be of par­tic­u­lar concern for schools pur­chas­ing an imported laptop trolley, that may contain lead based paint finishes. Even if a par­tic­u­lar finish has been requested by the importer, you have to ask the question ‘can they even be sure that what they are supplied is as specified?’.
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It seems that the only way to be truly satisfied is to purchase a locally made (not just locally assembled) laptop trolley. The Lock & Dock laptop trolley range, by Gilkon is designed and man­u­fac­tured entirely in Australia, to Aus­tralian en­vi­ron­men­tal standards, using one of the most en­vi­ron­men­tal­ly friendly finishes… powder coating.
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Powder coatings are renowned for being en­vi­ron­men­tal­ly re­spon­si­ble. They are 100% solid – this is the paint with no solvents, no fumes, and no dangerous gases, and there are no harmful volatile organic solvents that con­tribute to green­house gas emissions and global warming.
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So before you purchase your next laptop trolley ask your suppliers if their laptop trolleys are made in Australia (not just assembled) and if they are finished using en­vi­ron­men­tal­ly friendly powder coating.