Green Kitchen Trends - Part 2 Cabinets
When thinking about cabinetry within an environmentally responsible project, it is important to remember that any style or type of cabinetry can be “green”. The important things to think about are ways it was produced, what it is made of and how much processing it has gone through to get to your home. Suggested types of “green” cabinetry would be local products, re-using some of the cabinetry that you currently have, selecting recycled cabinetry, selecting formaldehyde-free cabinetry, bamboo cabinetry and certified wood cabinetry. Sustainable hardwoods come from forest companies with fair, legal and responsible management practices. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) issues certification according to their forestry standards. Some woods with medium growth rates, like birch and red oak, can be considered sustainable if new trees are continuously planted and long-term plans are put into place.When cabinetry is produced close to the end location of installation, there are less fossil fuels used to transport the items, reducing the impact on the environment from both a health and sustainability standpoint.
Many times some of your cabinetry may be in perfectly good condition, so changing some is better than replacing all of the cabinetry. In some cases you may be able to find some one else’s old cabinets and re-use them in your project, like the old saying goes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.
Some of the specific types of recycled cabinetry are paper, aluminum and metal. Formaldehyde is a chemical that is common in cabinetry because of its preservative properties within finishes applied to cabinetry. However, formaldehyde gives off noxious (harmful) fumes initially. In this case the “new” cabinet smell can be harmful to your health if you do not properly ventilate your home after installation. Now there are manufacturers that offer formaldehyde-free cabinetry, but it is something that you mostly likely will have to request information about when reviewing the cabinetry types for your project. By nature, wood cabinets are “green” because they are made from a renewable source, can be recycled and are biodegradable. Bamboo is another “green” wood type of cabinet because of its fast-growing properties. It is a fast-growing grass with a hollow stem. It is considered eco-friendly because the wood can be harvested every 3-5 years, opposed to the cherry or maple that can be harvested every 35-75 years. Lastly, cabinetry that is made from certified wood is environmentally responsible. Certified wood has been certified by an independent third-party to indicate that it has been grown and harvested using environmentally responsible practices. The Forestry Stewardship Council; affirming that from the moment the lumber was harvested through its manufacture into components at a plant, it was handled in an eco-friendly manner.