WHAT MAKES A WOOD CABINET GREEN?
When purchasing green cabinetry for your home there are three main areas to consider:
1. Hardware:
Environmentally friendly hardware and drawer slides should be 100% recyclable and made completely of metal and polymers with no plastic components. This being said you do not have to compromise the durability or functionality of the convenient soft close of your doors and drawers.
2. Box/Case Material:
The core concern about the case material is the type and amount of formaldehyde (VOC) used. There are two types: urea, a high-emission formaldehyde and phenol, which is a low-emission formaldehyde. PureBond and Uniboard are the leaders in manufacturing low/zero-VOC plywood and particleboard sheets. We use the PureBond plywood that uses a soybased chemical to replace the traditional urea formaldehyde altogether and the NU Green particleboard that emits almost no VOCs, which is recycled and recyclable and is more resistant to water damage than traditional particleboard.
3. Finishes:
This is the pivotal factor in determining if the cabinet you choose is green enough for you and your home. Water-based finishes are the most safe and environmentally clean finishes available because they use pure water for dilution and cleaning instead of the more traditional toxic solvents. Don't be satisfied with companies that only use low/zero-VOC sealers. It isn't enough for a company to claim their finish is green because they seal their toxic finish with a water-base top-coat or sealer. The moment your door is drilled for your hardware and the moment you begin getting surface scratches on your doors, this seal is broken and the VOC's start making their way through your home. You should insist that the entire finishing process is VOC-Free, including all paints, stains, glazes and topcoats.
Our true quality European paints, stains, glazes and topcoats are all water-based finishes that have a harder surface than solvents, it's 5x more durable, easier to clean and maintains its beauty much longer.
