What’s in Your Cupboard?
Material:
1. Solid Wood:
• Pros: Is widely available; FSC certification ensures sustainablity; Comes in an infinite cariety of styles.
• Cons: Rewuires felling of trees; Stock FSC-certified cabinetry is not usually available. (Custom orders are more expensive.)
• Cost: Medium to high in cost.
2. Wood Sheet Products (medium-density fiberboard or MDF, plywood, particleboard):
• Pros: Are inexpensice and widely available; Some sheet goods have high recycled or waste-wood content; FSC certification is available.
• Cons: May contain formaldehyde or binders that emit VOCs; FSC-certified products are used by few cabinetmakers.
• Cost: Low in cost overall.
3. Bamboo and Biocomposite Boards (made from wheat, sorghum, rice or sunflowers):
• Pros: Are made from rapidly renewable sources; Agricultural waste is used; Has an unusal, attractive grain; I susually formaldehyde free with low-VOC binders.
• Cons: Is slightly more permeable and prone to warping than wood; There’s little certification available yet for organic or pesticide-free biocomposites.
• Cost: Medium to high in cost.
4. Reclaimed Wood:
• Pros: Is widely available is a variety of species and textures; Can be acquired from local sources; SmartWood certification ensures sources.
• Cons: Some new wood may be sold as reclaimed; May be shipped long distances or imported.
• Cost: Medium to high in cost.
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