1.) How is a green cabinet better than a standard cabinet? What’s a standard cabinet made from?
2.) What about green cabinets? What are they made from?
3.) How can one be sure a wood species is sustainable?
4.) Besides the environmental benefits, are there any other benefits to buying green?
5.) I’m concerned about the health of myself and my family. How can I avoid formaldehyde and VOCs?
6.) Isn't buying green just too expensive?
Q: How is a green cabinet better than a standard cabinet? What’s a standard cabinet made from?
A: Cabinets manufactured using non-green materials will usually consist of wood, glue and stain/veneer. These products contain formaldehyde as well as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and are frequently constructed of wood sourced from slow-growing trees that often need to be clear-cut.
Q: So, what about green cabinets? What are they made from?
A: While there is no agreed upon definition of a “green” cabinet, they are typically constructed of materials that are gentle on the environment and have a low carbon footprint. They are made without harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde and are low in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). In addition, they are made from wood species that are sustainable.
Q: How can one be sure a wood species is sustainable?
A: Generally a wood is deemed sustainable if it is harvested using good forestry practices, rather than clear-cutting. Examples of sustainable wood include bamboo which grows quickly with little irrigation and lyptus which is harvestable in as little as 15 years and can regenerate from a cut stump. Other types of wood can also be grown sustainably as long as the forest they are grown in is properly stewarded. The authority on this is the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), which certifies wood that has been grown sustainably.
Q: Besides the environmental benefits, are there any other benefits to buying green?
A: Yes, buying green is also good for your health. The VOCs and formaldehyde in standard cabinets are not only bad for the Earth, they are eye, nose, throat and skin irritants and are even believed to be cancer causing agents. Green cabinets have much lower levels of these toxic compounds or in some cases, none at all.
Q: I’m concerned about the health of myself and my family. How can I avoid formaldehyde and VOCs?
A: While the EPA and Sierra Club are currently looking into Toxic Emissions Standards, the current push for standards is being driven by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) which has looked into the offgassing of composite wood products, glues and stains, which typically contain toxic fumes. As of January 1, 2009 CARB will label all CARB-compliant products, which is currently a consumers best bet in avoiding unhealthy offgassing.
Q: But isn’t buying green just too expensive?
A: Buying green doesn’t have to be expensive. At Green Cabinets Direct we source all our cabinets from an FSC certified, CARB-compliant manufacturer and ship directly to you or your contractor, eliminating the middle man, and saving you lots of cash.
If you have any further questions, we’d be happy to help. Just contact us and we’ll do our best to get you a prompt answer.
Thanks for your interest in buying green!