California Introduces a Breath of Fresh Air

How can a building material comprised of recycled parts be environmentally harmful? How can using leftover wood that would otherwise be thrown away not be eco-friendly? In the case of substrates such as particle board, hardwood plywood and medium density fiberboard (MDF), the resin which binds these recycled wood parts together can spoil the environment by releasing small amounts of urea-formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Come January, the state of California is going to try and purge the already small level of formaldehyde emissions from these composite wood panels used in millwork, counter tops, furniture, cabinets, store fixtures, doors and decorative wood items. Once fully implemented, California Air Resource Board regulation 93120.12 (otherwise known as the CARB rule) will become the most stringent standard for indoor air emissions in the world.

The new regulation will be implemented in two phases starting in January 2009. Once fully implemented in 2012, formaldehyde emissions from particleboard will be reduced by more than 60% from current levels; emissions from MDF will be reduced by 70%. 

Although these levels are comparable to the levels in other standards around the world, California's regulation calls for stricter certification and enforcement than other worldwide standards. Manufacturers will need to demonstrate that they are purchasing CARB-compliant panels certified by a CARB-approved third party, adhere to a strict labeling system including statements of compliance, and maintain those records for up to 2 years.

So, how does this affect your business... especially if your company isn't based or have a shop in California? This new rule applies to all products manufactured, sold, offered for sale, supplied or used in California. It is highly unlikely that manufacturers and fabricators will want to keep separate inventories of supplies and raw materials, let alone track which products are being installed in what state on a regular basis. In addition, other states tend to follow California's lead with regards to environmental initiatives. So far, five other states have already implemented or plan to introduce tighter restrictions of their own.

Lamin-Art fully supports the implementation of this new regulation. As a decorative surfacing material that is used in conjunction with composite wood panels, you can rest assured that our high-pressure decorative laminates are GREENGUARD Certified low-emitting products. This means they can safely be used in conjunction with CARB-compliant composite wood panels and GREENGUARD Certified adhesives to ensure healthy indoor air quality.

For more information on the new CARB rule, download our CARB flyer.

New Items Coming Soon

Our Design Director Hans Mutzke has been hard at work gearing up for the introduction of a series of new Abstract prints coming next month. In the next couple of weeks, we will be launching 15 new items mixing ancient and modern influences that will be sure to complement any commercial interior environment. Subscribe to our RSS feed  to be among the first to learn about these new products as soon as they debut.  To schedule a presentation for your firm, contact your local Architectural Representative.

North of the Border

Just a few days ago, Lamin-Art exhibited at IIDEX NeoCon in Toronto. We want to thank our Canadian customers for their enthusiastic response to our presence at the show. Our team was glad to have the opportunity to meet these customers face-to-face, and to introduce our premium product line to those visitors who were not familiar with Lamin-Art.

As a reminder, our products are represented by Prolific Marketing "Delivering Design" in Ontario and Eastern Canada, and by PJ White Hardwoods in the Western part of the country. Click to learn how to request samples , or how to order products in Canada.

Access our website in French.

Enabling Green: Tip #1

In our July issue, we told you about our exciting new eco-enable project to promote not only the "green" nature of our product, but to serve as industry leaders and innovators with respect to sustainable business practices. Our corporate "green team" has begun to examine ways that we can implement environmental initiatives at our corporate office and with our Architectural Representatives throughout the country. As we teach ourselves as a company to be more environmentally aware, we'd like to share some of the tips and best practices that we've come across. Some of the best ideas don't even take a whole lot of time or cost a whole lot of money. In fact, some may even help you or your company save some money. Look for more of these pointers in upcoming issues of The Source.

According to David Bach's Go Green, Live Rich, if every American cut out driving to work one day per week we would reduce CO₂ by well over one ton per person ! Better yet, cut out car trips of two miles or less (5 km) which already make up a significant portion of the trips we make. By biking or walking to these shorter destinations, each American could shed a few pounds and, given the price of gasoline these days, save a couple hundred dollars per year.