True Pigments - The Colours of Pollution

In the world of art, colour is everything. But what if those colours could do more than just look beautiful? What if they could heal rivers, revive ecosystems, and repurpose toxic waste into pigments? Meet True Pigments, a visionary non-profit from Ohio, USA, that is doing exactly that. They’re reclaiming pigments from historic coal mining pollution and turning them into high-quality paints by cleaning contaminated water and restoring aquatic life in affected areas. 

The story starts deep in the Appalachian Ohio region, where abandoned coal mines have long been leaking acidic drainage into creeks and rivers, laced with heavy metals, especially iron oxide, which gives the water a rusty orange tint. Where most see pollution, True Pigments sees a colourful possibility.

Using a low-tech, efficient system, they install pipes and filtration setups near the abandoned mines. The polluted water is collected and passed through a treatment process where iron oxide is filtered out, purified, and sent to their facility. The result is a fine pigment powder that can be used to make paint from something that once destroyed ecosystems. Watch the full process on Business Insider here.

Paint With Purpose

The paint created from these reclaimed pigments is symbolic, it’s artist-grade quality, used by painters and creators who want their work to mean something more. But the applications don’t stop at art studios. True Pigments is expanding the use of these sustainable pigments into industries like, ceramics, bricks and concrete, architectural coatings. And soon… even cosmetics!

Their mission is to replace at least 1% of the world’s annual iron oxide consumption with a cleaner, greener alternative that doesn’t cost the planet.

True Pigments, Real Impact

To date, their work has helped bring 7 miles of dead stream back to life in Appalachian Ohio. What was once a lifeless stretch of water now flows with movement, vitality, and yes fish.

In fact, one of their monitoring sites went from having zero fish species to seventeen native species returning after treatment began. With every pigment they produce, they’re reducing pollution and reclaiming life.

“Art Speaks in a Way Science Cannot” 

At True Pigments, they are tied to storytelling through colours. Many of the paints are used by artists to create awareness-driven artwork that communicates the urgency of environmental action in a way that scientific charts never could and this is what they believe. Connecting emotion to action and using the universal language of art to inspire change and provoke thought.

They’re repurposing pollution into pigments and inviting artists, architects, and makers to join the solution. It’s all about making regeneration happen, because creativity? That’s a climate solution too!