The green spirit

Rialto sustainability

Rialto lime finishes are made from traditional slaked lime that reabsorbs much of the CO₂ released in making it, lets walls breathe and needs no added biocides.

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Lime that turns back into stone

Seasoned slaked lime (grassello di calce) makes up about a third of a Rialto decorative finish. Today it’s still made in a kiln by traditional methods.

Once the finish is applied, this air-hardening lime begins to reabsorb a good part of the CO₂ released when it was made. This is called carbonation, and it turns the calcium hydroxide (lime) back into calcium carbonate (stone).

Of the most common building binders, traditional seasoned slaked lime holds the record: 60–62% of its total CO₂ emissions are reabsorbed, greatly reducing its lasting footprint. Hydrated dolomitic lime and calcic air lime reabsorb around 53–56%, hydraulic lime 26%, and other types of cement no more than 1%.

Choosing a finish based on seasoned slaked lime is an excellent sustainable, ecological choice for your project.

Crystal sphere on moss with forest background, symbolising natural harmony in decorative finishes

CO₂ reabsorbed

Seasoned slaked lime: 60–62%
Dolomitic and calcic air lime: 53–56%
Hydraulic lime: 26%
Other cements: 1% or less

Walls that breathe, with no added biocides

Water vapour permeability

Unlike acrylic coatings, lime coatings don’t form a film that blocks water vapour. Instead, they let air and water vapour move through the wall. Dry walls make for a healthy, comfortable home.

No added biocides

The high pH of a lime coating (12.5–13.5) creates a naturally antiseptic environment that helps keep living spaces clean and pleasant. Rialto lime finishes simply don’t contain added biocides.

Forest canopy viewed from below with sunlight through green leaves, aspirational nature imagery

Innovating with renewable energy

Sustainability is a core value of the Covema group, Rialto’s parent company, and has guided how it works for many years. The group continues to invest in sustainable practices, with a strong commitment to the future.

Since 2009, Covema Vernici has powered its production with electricity from renewable sources. A solar panel system supplies about 65% of the company’s total energy needs, significantly reducing its environmental impact.

This is just one example of Covema’s wider commitment to sustainability. Through continuous research and development, Rialto and the Covema group create paints and varnishes that not only protect surfaces but also safeguard the health of the people applying them and the environment they’re used in.

Covema manufacturing facility with solar panels on roof

Greenland: Covema’s forest for the planet

Covema’s environmental commitment is at the heart of a newer initiative: “Greenland – the Covema forest”.

It’s run with Treedom, the world’s first online platform for planting trees remotely, and contributes to global reforestation. Every purchase of Covema products directly supports the company’s investment in planting trees around the world, so customers play an active part in building a greener planet.

Greenland is both a Covema project and a mission shared with its customers, helping to restore forests, capture CO₂ and let the world breathe. With it, Covema reinforces its vision of a future rooted in sustainability and fair development.

Find out more on Covema’s page on Treedom.