Still, the options have come a long way and you should enquire with your supplier about what they have available. For instance, Crystal Cabinetry offers a Valspar ULF topcoat that is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certified.
Managing buyer expectations is key, as popular high-sheen finishes are harder to get in a low-VOC formula, and some natural-based products may have a slightly different look.
REUSE AND RECYCLE
For remodelers, the greenest choice would be to protect and salvage as much of the existing cabinetry as possible. Refacing is one option, although the same questions need to be asked about the new adhesives and finishes.
At the very least, consider repurposing discarded cabinetry for the garage, workroom, or other lower-profile spaces.
There aren’t many options for recycling cabinetry, since veneers and finishes make separation difficult. Before trashing unwanted pieces, explore local options for donation, such as to a Habitat Restore, or consider listing the materials on Craigslist or Freecycle.
Putting It All Together
With the many components that need exploring, it’s easy to get bogged down by the product selection process.
The KCMA’s Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) aims to ease some of the burden by recognizing manufacturers who meet requirements in five key areas: air quality, product resource management (wood origins and content), process resource management (manufacturing processes), environmental stewardship (including documentation of environmental quality commitment), and community relations. Manufacturers must earn points in all five areas to qualify.
About 140 brands—70% of the U.S. cabinet market—are certified under the program, says Titus.
To meet the ultra-green needs of his buyers, Texas builder and remodeler Don Ferrier works with custom cabinet shops. Though it takes a lot of legwork and documentation, this control ensures the products going into his tightly built homes won’t negatively affect indoor air quality.
Kati Curtis, ASID, LEED AP, of Nirmada Interior Architecture and Design in New York City, also relies on the control custom shops provide. It requires hand-holding at first to help them find and become familiar with new materials, she says, but they learn quickly and costs come back down.
Customers also begin to come around: “When it goes in and there’s no smell, and they understand it, then they see the value,” says Curtis.
Expect other buyers to follow. “With new generations of buyers in the market,” says Roger Rutan, vice president of sales and marketing at Timber Products, “you’re going to see a difference in demand for cabinetry that will fundamentally change the shape and look of the marketplace.”
Katy Tomasulo is Deputy Editor for EcoHome.