DV Wise builds custom homes in the Lake Norman NC region

A product is only as sustainable as the sum of its parts. In the case of cabinetry, there are quite a few parts to add up.

When selecting cabinetry for a green-built home, dedicated research is required to break the products down and evaluate the origins of the wood used to make the raw materials, the resins that bind them, the chemical content of the glues used to adhere the parts together, and the VOC levels of finishes. 

Raw Materials

The base components of most wood cabinetry today are made with hardwood plywood, MDF, or particleboard. While these materials are more resource efficient than solid wood, manufacturing them historically has involved formaldehyde-laden resins; the high formaldehyde content off-gassing from some man-made materials creates health concerns, according to the Healthy House Institute, especially for people with chemical sensitivities.

Several major manufacturers of composite wood panels, including Timber Products and Columbia Forest Products, have already been working with resin manufacturers and refining their manufacturing processes to create no-added-formaldehyde (NAF) or no-added-urea-formaldehyde (NAUF) products. Columbia’s PureBond NAUF plywood, for example, utilizes a soy-based adhesive.

“The formaldehyde levels of [composite] products have come down dramatically over the past 10 years,” says Dick Titus, executive vice president of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).

Helping the push are the most recent emissions requirements from the California Air Resources Board (CARB); once phase two of the rules begin in 2012, they will be the strictest regulations in the world. Though the laws are specific to the Golden State, most panel manufacturers and cabinet companies are changing over their stock across the country. There is also speculation that similar emissions regulations may be adopted at the federal level.

In addition to CARB compliance, some composite panels may carry the Composite Panel Association’s Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification, which verifies formaldehyde emissions lower than government regulations and the use of recycled and/or recovered wood fiber.

Indeed, along with formaldehyde, consider the resource origins of the wood panels for recycled content (some certified by Scientific Certification Systems) and/or for sustainable harvesting as verified by the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, among others. Certified products may carry a slight price premium.

Finally, you’ll also need to examine the woods that make up the veneers and solid wood trim, doors, and drawer fronts. Austin Energy Green Building’s Sustainable Building Sourcebook recommends domestic hardwoods or certified, sustainably harvested tropical hardwoods as the most environmentally sound choices. “Veneer-grade domestic softwoods are often harvested from old growth timber, and non-certified tropical hardwoods are too often harvested in a manner that is devastating to the forest,” the group advises.

And, be sure to enquire about the chemical content of the glues used to adhere the veneers to the cabinet box; non-solvent-based adhesives can be comparable in performance and cost, Austin Energy says.

Alternative Materials
Though traditional composite wood panels dominate, alternatives exist that offer their own environmental benefits or trade-offs.

Solid wood is one option that will eliminate formaldehyde concerns, but it lacks the materials efficiency of an engineered product, is fairly rare, and is more expensive.

Weyerhaeuser makes composite panels using Lyptus, a Brazilian-grown wood that can be harvested for lumber in 14 to 16 years. Like bamboo, another cabinetry alternative, Lyptus offers the benefits of rapid renewability but does have to be shipped a longer distance. Wheatboard, made from waste stalks, is another option gaining attention.

As with traditional composite panels, ensure alternative engineered materials you select utilize formaldehyde-free resins.

Though more rare here, some metal cabinets can be a green selection from both a resources and health standpoint. For example, St. Charles Cabinetry says its metal options contain more than 70 percent recycled material and are 98 percent recyclable; the products’ baked-on powdercoat finish is considered hypoallergenic.

Finishes
Though low-VOC finishes are becoming more readily available, they’re not yet widespread due to concerns that are similar to those made during the transition to healthier paints: The quality and richness aren’t always equivalent and the application may be unfamiliar.

Still, the options have come a long way and you should enquire with your supplier about what they have available. For instance, Crystal Cabinetry offers a Valspar ULF topcoat that is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certified.

Managing buyer expectations is key, as popular high-sheen finishes are harder to get in a low-VOC formula, and some natural-based products may have a slightly different look.

Reuse and Recycle
For remodelers, the greenest choice would be to protect and salvage as much of the existing cabinetry as possible. Refacing is one option, although the same questions need to be asked about the new adhesives and finishes.

At the very least, consider repurposing discarded cabinetry for the garage, workroom, or other lower-profile spaces.

There aren’t many options for recycling cabinetry, since veneers and finishes make separation difficult. Before trashing unwanted pieces, explore local options for donation, such as to a Habitat Restore, or consider listing the materials on Craigslist or Freecycle.

Putting It All Together
With the many components that need exploring, it’s easy to get bogged down by the product selection process.

The KCMA’s Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) aims to ease some of the burden by recognizing manufacturers who meet requirements in five key areas: air quality, product resource management (wood origins and content), process resource management (manufacturing processes), environmental stewardship (including documentation of environmental quality commitment), and community relations. Manufacturers must earn points in all five areas to qualify.

About 140 brands—70 percent of the U.S. cabinet market—are certified under the program, says Titus.

To meet the ultra-green needs of his buyers, Texas builder and remodeler Don Ferrier works with custom cabinet shops. Though it takes a lot of legwork and documentation, this control ensures the products going into his tightly built homes won’t negatively affect indoor air quality.

Kati Curtis, ASID, LEED AP, of Nirmada Interior Architecture and Design in New York City, also relies on the control custom shops provide. It requires hand-holding at first to help them find and become familiar with new materials, she says, but they learn quickly and costs come back down.

Customers also begin to come around: “When it goes in and there’s no smell, and they understand it, then they see the value,” says Curtis.

Expect other buyers to follow. “With new generations of buyers in the market,” says Roger Rutan, vice president of sales and marketing at Timber Products, “you’re going to see a difference in demand for cabinetry that will fundamentally change the shape and look of the marketplace.”

by Katy Tomasulo, Deputy Editor for EcoHome.

www.dvwise.com