Committed to environmental stewardship, industry leaders like Collins and SierraPine manufacture sustainably harvested hardwoods or particleboard and medium-density fiberboard made without urea formaldehyde, one of the largest interior sources of carcinogenic gases. Here are our top five picks for eco-storage building options.
1. Green cabinet and millwork by Green Cabinetworks
This design/build firm specializes in the manufacturing of sustainable cabinetry and millwork, sourcing responsibly harvested hardwoods and using traditional cabinet joinery and craftsmanship. A FSC certified woodworking company, GCW’s green operations include: assembly of custom-built products with formaldehyde-free glues and adhesives, finishing with water-based stains, and recycling 100 per cent of its wood waste. greencabinetworks.com
2. Architectural woodwork by Towne Millwork
This premier woodwork manufacturer’s portfolio includes a number of prominent projects in North America, such as upgraded interiors at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium and the Anchorage Museum expansion. Along with supplying and installing sustainably harvested hardwood products, Towne Millwork conducts environmentally safe material disposal and recycling, keeping salvageable cut-offs in storage for later re-use. townemillwork.ca
3. Interior veneers and plywood panels by Columbia Forest Products
The decorative veneer and hardwood plywood in Columbia’s cabinetry, furniture, and architectural millwork is made using a soy-based, formaldehyde-free adhesive adhesive known as PureBond. Befitting for residential and commercial applications, these non-toxic, moisture resistant panels can contribute toward LEED credit requirements and are cost-competitive with traditional veneer-core hardwood plywood options. columbiaforestproducts.com
4. Composite solutions by SierraPine
Interiors from healthcare to hospitality have specified SierraPine for casework, wall panels and artistic elements, utilizing exotic veneers such as sycamore and horizontal grain teak over SP’s sustainable fiberboard substrates. The manufacturer’s line of formaldehyde-free particleboard and MDF products are made with recycled wood fiber and meet or exceed the most stringent global emission standards – representing the future of engineered composite panels. sierrapine.com
5. FSC-certified wood products by The Collins Companies
Collins produces softwood and hardwood lumber as well as particleboards manufactured with 100 per cent post-industrial wood fiber. Founded in 1855, this family-owned timber and sawmill business became the first privately-owned forest products company in the United States to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and to adopt the principles of The Natural Step and integrate them into their business operations. collinsco.com
For more, see Azure‘s annual Green Building Guide, published in the May issue, a comprehensive reference about the trends, materials and systems that will help you transform any project into a bastion of sustainability.
