Vermont Firm Creates Whey-Based Wood Finish

Greensboro, VT, June 1, 2012 -- A company here has created a wood flooring finish using whey, a by-product of cheese making.

Poly Whey has been developed by Vermont Natural Coatings, using a readily available ingredient from nearby cheese makers.

"Whey proteins, as they bond together, create a very strong bonding agent, so we actually have stronger ingredients as far as strength than you would find with a chemically based finish," Andrew Meyer, the owner of Vermont Natural Coatings, told WCAX.com.

Wood floor finishing is dominated by oil-based products like polyurethane.  But many consumers are looking for alternatives to chemical-base products.

According to the story, flooring contractors, like Dragomir Ralic from the Boston area, were invited to Greensboro to try the Vermont Natural Coatings product. He said the difference from oil-based finishes is immediately clear -- starting with the smell. "It's nicer, dries faster, more friendlier for people who live in the house, you know -- for families," he said.

Not only do contractors not need to wear a full respirator set up like they would for applying polyurethane, the floor is almost completely dry in a about a half hour after the finish is applied.