Selfishly Green

It has come up enough recently, that we wanted to document, (and have an easy place to point to) what makes our products "sustainable" or "green". So we have compiled this list .... with Pictures! ..... to better clarify the steps that we take in this environmental direction. It has come up enough recently, that we wanted to document (and have an easy place to point to) what makes our products "sustainable" or "green". So we have compiled this list .... with Pictures! ..... to better clarify the steps that we take in this environmental direction.

In making this list, we find we want to point out that we do not make our products in the "green" direction as a marketing stunt, or so that we can sell things at higher prices. We do it for very selfish reasons.

We do it because working with and being around certified sustainable and environmentally "green" products creates a healthier environment for us and you. The FSC certified sustainable woods we use do not have formaldehyde in them, so that means no off-gassing into our system. The trees are harvested such that there will be plenty more trees in the future for all to enjoy. Some of the materials are made from 100% recycled content as well. We try to get everything as local as possible too, so there's less fuel being burned to get it to us (and then to you!). The Ultra-Low VOC non-toxic water-based finishing systems we have developed means that no one is breathing in the toxins that more 'standard' wood finishes have. We design aiming towards what's best for all when possible.

We hope to be doing this for a long time, so doing things the smart way first seems to be the best idea. Also we love our clients and customers, for they enable us to do the great things we make happen. They shouldn't have to put up with anything we wouldn't, so hence why we're 'selfish' in our environmental practices.

All of the products that we declare as using sustainable wood in our store are made with FSC Certified Maple Plywoods from Earth Source http://earthsourcewood.com/

The products that we declare as being made from recycled materials are made with Medite 2. Medite 2 is a hardboard that is made of 100% recycled materials and has SCS CERTIFICATION, which assures that it has absolutely no formaldehyde (which is quite common in this type of product). You can see more about that product here: http://www.sierrapine.com/products/mdf/mdf_mediteII.htm

All of our products are finished with ULTRA-LOW VOC, water-based Lacquer or Conversion Varnish. This gives a beautiful protective luster to our products while being kind to our environment by exceeding federal and state clean air regulations. We use the Target Coating brand: http://www.targetcoatings.com/

We mix our own wood dyes in house out of pigments and water.

And for any painting we use American Pride brand, which is an eco-friendly paint: http://www.americanpridepaint.com/welcome.html

To learn more about how the CNC routing table helps us in this "green" direction, please see this previous post.

Here are the facts for our products in list form:
Tree Stump Table- made of 100% FSC Certified Maple Plywood, Ultra-Low VOC Lacquer
http://www.becausewecan.org/tree_table LED table The WAVE- made of 100% FSC Certified Maple Plywood, with an imbeded LED circuit board and a glass top, ULTRA-LOW VOC Conversion Varnish.
http://www.becausewecan.org/LED_Coffee_Table_The_Wave

LED table The Ripple- made of 60% FSC Certified Maple Plywood, 40% Medite 2 (a 100% recycled material containing no formaldehyde) with an imbeded LED circuit board and an acrylic top, ULTRA-LOW VOC Conversion Varnish. http://www.becausewecan.org/LED_coffee_table_Ripple