b'welcomefrom ReseneImagine using a vermilion paint, coloured by pigments made from a mercury compound, on your bathroom walls, or perhaps choosing a green paint containing arsenic to nish the fence. Both scenarios are ridiculous to contemplate today, yet were commonplace less than a century ago.Signicant technological leaps have been made since then to produce a whole range of materials that create less environmental impact than theirpredecessors,makingitsaferforproductusersandbuilding from the editor occupants, and easier on the environment. These include Environmental Choice-approved paints, carpets, plasterboard and much more.Theyre all over the news: Catchwords such asResene has always focused on the need to reduce the risk products may carbon footprint, food miles, emission credits,present to customers and the environment, long before such an attitude and environmental cost of production.became fashionable. First, there was the basic innovation of Resene Itstakenalongtime,butwerestartingtowaterborne paints to reduce the level of toxic solvents. Other steps such realise the need to take some responsibility foras the removal of lead from Resene decorative paints in the late 1960s, the way we treat the world. Quite apart fromgaining Environmental Choice approval on an extensive range of Resene the raging debatesis the earth actually in apaints in 1996, and launching the PaintWise paint recovery programme cooling cycle, is global warming pure hypothesisin 2004 have all been well ahead of their time.or factmany of the ideas under discussionToday, just 8% of the decorative paint Resene sells is solventbornethe comedownnotjusttosustainability,buttocompanys average solvent levels have dropped by more than 90% in how we can live more healthily.two decades. The rst waterborne paint was launched here by Resene in So,welcometoHabitatsearthissue.Here,1951, and just half a century on, it is now possible to paint entire homes youll nd ideas on lessening your impact on theand buildings inside and out with waterborne paint.world around you and improving your quality of life at the same time. We visit a stunningColour charts, such as The Range fandeck, which would once have been rammed earth home in Otago, and a cuttingnished in solventborne inks, now feature chips nished in Environmental edge energy-efcient home in Auckland. Choice-approved Resene paints. Whats more, they are printed on paper stock from sustainably managed forests, using vegetable inks.On your home front, we show you the step-by-step construction of a triple composting system.The journey towards sustainability is never-ending, but each step along We investigate how to go about choosing andthe path is rewarding and worth the effort. Every little thing you can hiring an arborist to make the most of your trees,do in your home or work may not seem like much, but collectively it all and take a look at how to responsibly dispose ofhelps to keep our environment green for future generations to enjoy as left-over renovation materials. much as we do. Wealsointroduceyoutoabodyartist,aLets keep it green!commercial model-maker, and a man with a bone to pick with taggers.Enjoy your spring read!| 7'