Earlier this week, Formica announced the availability of high-pressure, decorative laminates with full FSC certification at no additional charge. The new, eco-friendlier laminates are manufactured in plants in Evendale, Ohio and St. Jean, Quebec and may contribute toward LEED credits in the certified wood category.
New possibilities with plywood are possible with Corelam, a Canadian manufactured “multi-use corrugated veneer plywood panel product” which we noticed recently at the industrial design site Core77 (no relation to Corelam despite the similar name). The distinctive corrugated wood panels are made with FSC wood and adhesives that do not off-gas formaldehyde or other volatile organic compounds.
Every FSC product and building material has a tracking number that points to the source of the wood or paper. It shows, as explained in this personal story by Franke James, “Who Cares About the Forest.“ If you’re in charge of purchasing wood products, you should watch this informative and thoughtful video (while keeping in mind that it was underwritten by FSC Canada).
California-based IndoTeak Design has what it calls “the greenest teak products on the market.“ Its FSC-certified, post-consumer, recycled teak products — flooring, paneling, siding, and decking — come from Indonesian structures up to 300 years old. IndoTeak also offers a unique, patchwork-painted Balinese boat wood, reclaimed artisan teak cabinets, and other beautiful custom wood products. IndoTeak provides competitive pricing and matches competitors, assuming the same quantity and quality.
As you know, there’s been a lot of back and forth between wood certification bodies, stakeholders, and the USGBC relating to the certified wood credit applicable all commercial LEED rating systems. The debate was documented in a five-part series in The Tyee recently, and led to the creation of the Forest Certification Benchmark.
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