World Environment Day: Clearing the air inside our homes
But while we often speak about outdoor pollution such as the smog, the dust storms, the smoky air, we forget one important fact: indoor air can be just as polluted.
Every year, World Environment Day reminds us of the urgent need to care for our planet. In Bangladesh, that message feels more important than ever. With rising temperatures, disappearing greenery, and dangerously polluted air, our environment is struggling, and so are we.
Across the country, especially in busy urban areas like Dhaka, the air has become thick with dust, smoke, and harmful gases.
Vehicle emissions, industrial waste, construction debris, and poor waste management have all contributed to the toxic air we now breathe every day. Bangladesh has ranked among the most polluted countries in the world, and this has turned clean air from a basic right into a growing concern.
But while we often speak about outdoor pollution such as the smog, the dust storms, the smoky air, we forget one important fact: indoor air can be just as polluted.
The overlooked threat of indoor air pollution
Whether it's our living rooms, classrooms, hospital wards, or offices, most people in cities spend 80 to 90 percent of their time indoors. Unfortunately, the air in these enclosed spaces carries many of the same pollutants found outside, and often at higher concentrations due to poor ventilation. Invisible gases and particles settle in and slowly build up, affecting our breathing, sleep, and health.
Indoor air, at first glance may look clean, as we often mop and sweep our home, but, truth to be told, it often carries the same harmful pollutants we see outside. Chemicals, dust, and gases silently enter our homes, through the windows and stay there. In closed spaces with little fresh air, these toxins can build up quickly, affecting our breathing, sleep, focus, and overall well-being. It's no surprise that cases of asthma, allergies, and long-term respiratory diseases are rising in our cities.
A 2021 study by icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) revealed that more than 40% of surveyed households in low-income areas had detectable mould growth, which was significantly associated with childhood asthma and skin conditions.
Small changes that provide relief
Making your home safer from indoor pollution doesn't need to be complicated. Small habits and simple changes can make a big difference in the air you breathe every day.
One of the easiest things you can do is open your windows regularly. Just letting fresh air in for 20 to 30 minutes a day helps push out the trapped smoke, dust, and other invisible particles that build up indoors. If your home is near a busy road and you worry about outdoor dust, try opening windows during quieter hours like early morning.
Another easy fix is keeping your kitchen well-ventilated. If you cook with high heat or fry food often, it's best to turn on an exhaust fan or open a window while cooking. This clears out smoke and grease that can hang around in the air.
Plants are also a lovely way to freshen up your home. They don't just add greenery—they help the air feel less stuffy. Easy-to-maintain plants like snake plant, aloe vera, or money plant don't need much care and grow well even in small apartments.
Innovation that makes a difference
In response to this growing crisis, Berger Paints has taken initiatives by launching EcoCoat, South Asia's first eco-friendly, anti-pollution paint, a breakthrough in protecting both health and the environment. It is designed to actively fight air pollution by purifying the air in the spaces where it is applied.
What sets EcoCoat apart is the advanced Air Purifying Hybrid Technology (APH) at its core. This technology absorbs and neutralises dangerous pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄), sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), and formaldehyde. These pollutants, commonly found in urban air, are converted into harmless substances, significantly improving the surrounding air quality.
This makes EcoCoat especially useful in homes, schools, hospitals, and other closed spaces where fresh air is limited. In fact, it can reduce indoor air pollution by up to 90 percent, offering a powerful layer of protection for families and communities.
In a country like Bangladesh, where the weather is hot and humid for most of the year, pollution inside buildings is a common issue. This is especially important for families with young children, elderly members, or anyone with a weaker immune system.
And since we're talking about the environment, Eco Coat stays true to the bigger picture too. It's completely free from harmful chemicals and supports global sustainability efforts.
Eco Coat not only makes your walls look good but also reduces your environmental footprint in the process, a small step that adds up when thinking about the kind of planet we want to leave behind.
The implications of air pollution stretch beyond health. Pollutants like CO₂ also drive climate change, leading to more extreme weather, higher temperatures, and an increase in allergens such as pollen.
In Bangladesh, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have seen a steady rise from 174.62 million tonnes (MT CO₂e) in 2013 to 213.19 MT CO₂e in 2019, increasing by an average of 6.4 MT CO₂e each year. If this trend continues, emissions are projected to reach over 257 MT CO₂e by 2026 and more than 270 MT CO₂e by 2030. In this larger environmental context, EcoCoat's ability to help reduce harmful emissions makes it part of a much-needed solution to a global problem.
Cleaner air also has direct economic benefits. According to a 2022 report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, reducing air pollution in the United States prevented over 230,000 premature deaths, 200,000 heart attacks, 120,000 emergency visits, and 17 million lost workdays. These numbers show just how valuable clean air is not only for health but also for productivity and national development.
In a country battling some of the worst air quality in the world, this paint offers a simple yet powerful tool to create safer homes and healthier cities
