HAPPY EARTH DAY!

As the world celebrates the 50th Anniversary of #EarthDay, we can't help but think of how grateful we are to be able to provide our clients with the healthiest non-off-gassing cabinets for their Kitchens on the market.  You always hear us talking about our "green" cabinets and how we couldn't sell anything else to our clients, knowing what we now know about off-gassing and indoor air quality. So we thought that today would be a great day to break down what that means and why it's so important to consider when purchasing a new Kitchen.

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​This year is a big milestone year. We not only celebrate 25 years since Mom opened her showroom doors but we are also proudly celebrating 10 years of selling the first Non-Toxic Wood Kitchen Cabinet in North America.  Coincidentally, our "new" supplier out of Spain that engineers the Aluminum line that we use for both our indoor and outdoor kitchens, is also celebrating 10 years with this innovative cabinet. 

​So, what does it mean to have a green cabinet and why should you care?

There are many components that go into making a cabinet truly green but the biggest point that all of us are concerned with is the finishing process. Many kitchen cabinet manufacturers use low-VOC topcoats to seal in the VOC finishes (Volitile Organic Compounds). They feel justified in saying it meets the CARB2 (California Air Resources Board) compliance requirements for safety, however, my question is always, "what happens when you drill the door for the hardware and break this "protective seal"?  This is where our wood manufacturer rises above the rest. They use ZERO-VOCs in all of their paints, stains, finishes and topcoats. You could walk through their finishing department with your child and not have to wear a mask! (Well sure, maybe now with #socialdistancing that may change, but you wouldn't have to because of the product.)

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You may be asking yourself why every company wouldn't produce a non-toxic cabinet for the health of their clients and employees? That's a good question and the reason most companies haven't switched over to a full non-toxic product is not only the cost but more importantly the learning curve associated with how these "new" finishes will react in different environments, over time and on different materials. Understandably, this is a big undertaking and why we are so proud of our supplier for taking this on a decade ago. We stuck with them all these years and are able to reap the rewards and pass those on to our clients as they can breathe easier in their homes knowing that their food and families are safe from harmful chemicals. 

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Indoor Air Quality is a huge conversation topic right now, especially as we are all staying at home.  Poor air quality can result in not only major issues like respiratory issues, but also symptoms like eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, dizziness and Asthma. Especially in newer homes where they are air tight for insulation and energy conservation purposes, it is even more important to choose materials for your interiors that won't be off-gassing! 

What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)?
By definition a VOC is any of various organic chemical compounds (such as formaldehyde or gasoline) that evaporate quickly especially from solvents, adhesives, fuels, or industrial wastes and that contribute to photochemical smog in the atmosphere.

According to an article on the EPA.gov site: Indoor organic pollutants are sometimes categorized by the ease that they will be emitted.
For example categorized as:

• Very volatile organic compounds (VVOCs)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs)

To put this into perspective, pesticides and fire retardants are considered Semi-Volatile where Formaldehyde is considered Volatile. 

NOTE: The concern of VOC's off-gassing from your cabinetry and into your home is for new cabinetry.  When you open your cabinets and you have that "new cabinet smell" that is actually the smell of formaldehyde. Typically, the length of time they will off-gas is anywhere from a month to a year after installation (longer for imports from places like China and similar). 

Words like VOC's and Off-Gassing will become more common place (if they are not already), so we hope this was informative for you and that you now have a more clear understanding why Mom and I are so proud and excited when we talk about our green non-toxic cabinetry! 

Until next time, make it a happy and healthy Earth Day!