NATURAL MATERIALS
The Challenges:
Many New Zealanders looking to build a new home or renovate their existing home are seeking more natural, healthy, eco-friendly options in the materials used. There may be someone in the family with health problems such as asthma or allergies giving sensitivity to some of the chemicals, including formaldehyde and other VOCs (volatile organic compounds), in conventional building materials, paints, carpets, floor coverings, and fabrics.
Many older NZ homes were constructed using materials that are now understood to be hazardous to health, such as asbestos in wall panels, or lead paint. Careful removal and disposal of such materials is a priority and allows replacement with healthier modern products.
People are also more aware of the environmental footprint of the manufacturing and processing of building products, and seeking greener, more ecologically sustainable materials.
Increasingly manufacturers, suppliers, designers, architects and builders are more conscious of these concerns and are integrating a range of natural, chemical-free, toxin-free products into their design options.
BRANZ Guide:
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Certification systems:The Challenges:
Eco Choice Aotearoa is NZ’s official ecolabel, originally set up by the government, now a non-profit organisation governed by an independent Board of Trustees, and part of the Global Ecolabelling Network including nearly 60 countries.
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There are also a range of international certification systems used by NZ suppliers and providers in the building industry, including:
The Living Building Challenge’s Red List of substances prevalent in building materials and products that including chemicals that can harm health and the environment – being certified as Red List Free is assurance that a product contains zero Red List chemicals and has passed emissions testing criteria:
Forestry sector sustainability certifications including the Forest Stewardship Council, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative:
FSC
PEFC
“Internationally our products meet the Green Building requirements – in NZ work with the Living Building Challenge, ensuring that our products meet the environmental aspects including the carbon footprint, the recycling content. Another important factor is the chemicals that go into the products meet the Red List Free, the chemicals aren’t nasty and aren’t going to leach out into our water systems.”
Jeff Fitness: Sealco
“Now with technology changing – people now wanting more sustainable products, so we’re saying goodbye to polystyrenes, a petroleum based product – now see mineral wall which is actually made out of rock, and alot of mineral wall use green energy in manufacturing.”
Harry Puttock: Sto NZ (2024)
“Cross laminated timber (CLT), carbon negative credit – more recently some CLTs are untreated so better for your healh.”
Julie Villard: Architect and Eco-Design Advisor, Christchurch City Council
“Sto has anew paint called Dryonic – biomimetic paint using nature’s technology, as soon as the rain stops it’s virtually dry – that means you don’t need to put nasty fungicides into the paint, because it doesn’t get wet so you don’t get mould”
Harry Puttock: Sto NZ (2024)
Sustainable Timber Finishes & Treatments
Creating healthier homes with natural materials and low-toxicity protection
Timber remains one of New Zealand’s most loved cladding and lining materials – natural, renewable, and beautiful. The key to performance and longevity lies in choosing finishes and treatments that protect the timber while maintaining a healthy indoor environment and low environmental impact.
Many Superhome Partners and Participants make, utilise and promote some of the range of natural products now available:
Timber fibre board insulation (wood fibre) from Kingspan (Steico): A natural insulation made from compressed timber fibres, sourced from sustainably managed forestry by-products – provides excellent thermal performance and helps regulate moisture within the wall system. Low-VOC. Recyclable and compostable with low environmental impact:
KINGSPAN: STEICO ►►Knauf Earthwool® Glasswool Insulation, used by Dan Saunders Construction, Ecopanel, and Bob Burnett Architecture: High-performance fibreglass insulation made using recycled glass and a plant-based binder with no added formaldehyde and very low VOC emissions – reduced embodied carbon:
EARTHWOOL ►►Terra Lana wool / polyester blend insulation: a NZ-made insulation using natural sheep’s wool blended with recycled polyester fibres for loft and stability – Terra Lana provides consistent thermal performance and supports moisture buffering due to wool’s natural properties – low-VOC and breathable:
TERRA LANA ►►Mammoth polyester insulation, used by Dan Saunders Construction and Ecopanel: Made from recycled plastic fibres with no added chemicals, the insulation emits virtually no VOCs, is non-irritant, non-toxic, and fully recyclable at end of life: “Made with up to 15,600 recycled plastic bottles per 100 square metres”:
MAMMOTH MODERN INSULATION ►►GIB plasterboard panels: certified with the Eco Choice Aotearoa Ecolabel:
GIB: Products ►►GIB: Environmental Certifications ►►GIB: Environmental Certification Overview ►►GIB plasterboard… is sustainable, non-toxic and even compostable because it is made from natural gypsum and 100% recycled paper. Most good quality pasterboards will be constructed from almost 100% recycled materials and manufactured with lower energy intensity.”
ARCHIPRO: Sustainable Building Materials For Architectural New Builds ►►Select SIPs panels: panels with a lower carbon footprint and proven sustainability, containing no VOCs, non-nutrient (will not support mould growth) and free of chlorides:
SelectSIPS: Information for HomeownersSelectSIPS: No VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)Resene Construction Systems: locally sourced natural materials (cement, sand, lime, limestone, pumice and clay) – all plastic linings have been removed from packaging bags – manufacturing processes operate 10 hours per day 4 days per week reducing the energy demands of the machinery and plant by 15%:
RESENE CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS ►►Sealco: sealant manufacturers provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for the roofing membranes and systems, verified in accordance with International Standard ISO 14025 as to the environmental effects of the product throughout its life cycle – some Sealco products have been certified under the Living Building Challenge Red List as free of harmful Red List chemicals:
SEALCO: Environmental Policy Statement ►►Aero Solutions sealant: a water-soluble organic compound with ultra-low VOC and no chemical reaction needed to form a seal thus no off-gassing – GreenGuard Gold certified (meeting the stricter requirements for schools and healthcare facilities:
AERO SOLUTIONS ►►Green Abode: using eco-friendly materials in the interiors including recycled wood, bamboo, wool, and low-VOC paints and finishes, and natural external claddings including wood, macrocarpa, bamboo and natural stone:
GREEN ABODE ►►Hiberna Modular: structural straw panels – locally sourced materials, reducing carbon miles, and using around half the carbon of standard construction:
HIBERNA MODULAR: Structural Straw Panels ►►Hiberna Modular: structural straw panels – locally sourced materials, reducing carbon miles, and using around half the carbon of standard construction:
Hiberna Modular structural straw panels ►►ITI – Innovative Timber Ideas: specialty timbers certified under FSC (Forest Stewardship Council International) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification):
ITINZ ►►JSC Premium Architectural & Building Solutions: responsibly sourced timber products including thermally modified timbers – certified under FSC and PEFC:
JSC: Celebrating 125 Years ►►JSC: Sustainability ►►One Stop Deck Shop: materials include NatureDeck, an arsenic-free, chrome-free, sustainably sourced pine decking, and renewable Carbonised Bamboo Decking:
ONE STOP DECK SHOP: Nature Deck ►►ONE STOP DECK SHOP: Carbonised Bamboo Decking ►►Sang Architects: Piha House renovation – the owner had a particular health sensitivity to mould, so sustainable, toxin-free materials were used that are kind to both people and the environment:
SANG ARCHITECTS: Piha House EnerPHit ►►Spencer Painters: recycle paints and use environmentally friendly products whenever possible:
SPENCER PAINTERS ►►
