kitchen conversations

We receive a lot of inquires on our line of eco-friendly cabinetry, so we thought we would share some of the top questions and answers here.  Please let us know if you have any others and feel free to share your thoughts!

Q: What is the definition of a “Green” kitchen cabinet?

A: “Green” refers primarily to how friendly a product is to the environment and to the health of those producing and using it.  In terms of the environment, it can encompass everything from the amount of energy used to manufacture, how much virgin (versus recycled) material is consumed, and what the resulting waste stream contains.  A cabinet can be green because it is healthier, because it has a low impact on the environment, or because it is simply more durable.  The quality of a product is critical to how long it will last.

Q: Can a “finished” cabinet be eco-friendly/green?

A: A natural finish is an eco-friendly finish because no stain or color has been applied prior to the topcoat.  Another option for an eco-friendly finish is hand-rubbed linseed oil finish, which is earth friendly. This finish has been used for years on antique furnishings and gun stocks.  Holiday Kitchens uses formaldehyde free glue to construct all of its cabinetry.

Q: Are there eco-friendly/green cabinet options – other than wood?

A: Bamboo is becoming a very popular alternative to traditional wood cabinetry.  It is a fast growing grass that is strong and durable.  Bamboo finishes beautifully with many of the same characteristics as wood.  Although bamboo is a grass and not a wood, it’s a sturdy and highly sustainable resource that is as good as any traditional wood. It is a rapidly renewable plant based product that will qualify for green building points.

Another eco-friendly/green option is reconstituted (composite) veneers, which are wood veneers engineered from sustainably harvested African hardwood trees and Italian plantation grown poplar trees.  These veneers replicate wood species that are under environmental pressure.  Holiday Kitchens offers Brookside veneers in Wenge and Zebrawood as an option for an exotic “green” look.

Q: Is there an organization that oversees environmental/green practices of cabinet manufacturers?

A: Holiday Kitchens is proud to be a certified member of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP).  The ESP is designed as a framework for manufacturers to highlight environmental business practices concerning: product and process resource management, air quality, environmental management policies and systems, and community relations.

Holiday Kitchens is making every effort to utilize only vendors that practice sound forest stewardship practices.