The Journey of Scheele's Green: From Poisonous Pigment to Banned Beauty

Green is the colour of balance, harmony and nature. For a time in the 18th century however, it was the colour of poison.

Poison for Profit by Perveen Kaur

When industrialisation began to take hold in Britain, it turned the cities grey and green was confined to the countryside. For those who could afford it, the interiors of homes and private gardens became all the more important, but even gardens went grey in colder months. This created a need for interiors to stay bright and colourful all year long.

Early Green Pigments

Early green pigments were created from natural sources. Malachite was a popular choice, a vibrant green gemstone that would have been ground down and mixed with various binders for use. Other natural versions included mixing minerals together such as blue azurite mixed with yellow ochre. Many natural pigments are unstable and would fade quickly or rub off.

Green Roses by Perveen Kaur

Chemistry Conquers Nature

In 1775 the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele invented a new green pigment called Scheele's Green. It became all the rage for paint, carpet, candles and fabrics. It was vibrant, stable and cheaper to produce than the natural counterparts. This made it highly accessible and production ramped up. Chemistry was conquering nature with one innovation after another.

The catch? Scheele's Green was poisonous, as it was made from arsenic. In the 1800s the exposure to arsenic through pigments and products like wallpaper, was being discovered. But it didn't hinder production in the slightest. By 1863, it is estimated that more than 500 tons of Scheele's Green was produced annually to feed demand. In 1871 a medical journal noted that a six-inch sample of Scheele’s green wallpaper, contained enough arsenic to kill two people.

Public awareness slowly increased and the market responded. By the end of the century, other versions of green pigments were being produced along with synthetic versions of other colours. Arsenic based products were being banned.

Cycle of Innovation

This is a common cycle. Creativity and innovation create something new; commercialisation creates a demand and makes a profit; unpleasant consequences ensue for the consumers; large scale pain is felt and reform occurs; a new innovation takes its place, starting the cycle all over again.

The story of Scheele's Green becomes a metaphor for the way we operate. Discover and innovate, produce, create demand, consume, profit, harm, reform, innovate. This cycle occurs not just with pigments, but across industries, time and space. Can we improve our cycle?