Finding kitchen and bath cabinets with environmental merit is a challenge. Look for cabinets made using FSC-certified or salvaged wood, recovered-fiber wood products, agrifiber panels, low-formaldehyde wood products, and low-VOC finishes. (Certification to Forest Stewardship Council FSC standards involves third-party evaluation and monitor...party evaluation and monitoring of sustainable forestry practices.

Formaldahyde-free medium waste fiberboard is a material made from glued and pressed softwood dust or chips manufactured with adhesives that do not contain formaldahyde. Formaldahyde free MDF does not off-gas formaldahyde which can cause strong allergic reactions and may be carcinogenic therefore creating a healthier living environment. It also represents an efficient use of forest resources as it is made from waste produced during wood processing.

As demand for natural forest products grows, non-forest sources of wood have been growing. Use of reclaimed wood salvaged from buildings slated for demolition, abandoned railroad trestles, and logs raised from the bottom of rivers, has become fashionable. Wood can also be harvested from disease-killed trees. Reclaimed wood is often available in species, coloration, and wood quality no longer available in newly harvested timber. Often, reclaimed wood suppliers have limited quantities on hand. Lowering uniformity requirements for finished wood finished can increase the potential for use of reclaimed wood. Use of reclaimed wood is important for its long-term availability.

Wheatcore is available in a wide variety of styles, sizes, wood-veneer species, and paint-grade finishes. The core is made from chopped wheat straw bound with waterproof, nonformaldehyle, MDI binder. These doors contain 85% rapidly renewable resource by volume.