Earth Paint is being spotlighted on the Ruth Fell Wander Community Art Wall located in the lobby of First Bank of Highland Park. The new exhibit highlights their vision to help reduce the large carbon footprint of the paint industry by taking old, unwanted paint, and recycling it into something even better.
Founded in 2013 by Chris McCarthy, Earth Paint is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Wood Dale, Illinois, that has created a powerful dual mission: tackling the paint industry's large carbon footprint while providing meaningful work opportunities for individuals with special needs.
They collect unwanted latex paint and subject it to a rigorous recycling process, filtering out impurities and fortifying it to create a new product that delivers superior coverage and quality at a fraction of the cost of name-brand products. This recycled paint is used by homeowners, professionals, and municipalities across Chicagoland.
Earth Paint is unique in its industry by serving its community through a dedicated special-needs employment program. In partnership with local organizations, Earth Paint employs and trains individuals with disabilities, providing purposeful career opportunities and developing job and life skills that can be life-changing. They intentionally design work stations for each team member, adapting tasks to their skills and fostering a supportive environment where many teammates experience their first meaningful employment.
The organization's core work involves taking old, unwanted latex paint, which often ends up polluting landfills, and recycling it into a high-quality, sustainable product. Earth Paint has already recycled over 70 million pounds of paint, diverting massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. They even use captured rainwater to provide the water required for their production process.
The Earth Paint exhibit is located in the bank lobby and will be open to the public during regular business hours throughout the month of November. For more information about Earth Paint or to sign-up for their newsletter, visit https://www.earthpaint.org/ or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT RUTH FELL WANDER COMMUNITY ART WALL
The Ruth Fell Wander Community Art Wall was created in 2002 in memory of Bank Director, Ruth Fell Wander. The art wall showcases novice artwork from local non-profit organizations and provides visibility to the various resources and services offered throughout the community. For more information call 847-432-7800 or visit www.firstbankhp.com.
ABOUT FIRST BANK OF HIGHLAND PARK
First Bank of Highland Park, a Division of First Bank Chicago, provides full-service banking solutions for commercial and consumer clients throughout Chicagoland. With over 65 years of banking history, First Bank ranks as one of the five largest privately held banks in Chicago. Our experienced bankers utilize our personal service model to provide customized banking solutions without the bureaucracy of the megabanks. First Bank’s deep culture of caring includes giving time, talent, and resources to all corners of our community. Our bank has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” by Crain’s Chicago Business for 8 consecutive years (2018-2025). In 2024, First Bank was recognized by American Banker as the #1 “Best Bank to Work For”. To learn more about the First Bank of Highland Park, visit www.firstbankhp.com.
