Ecology Matters & Sustainability | Closet Design
Why It’s Important
At the Closet Works, we take our responsibility both to our customers and to the environment quite seriously. We make a concerted effort to work with partners who are as committed to the environment (and the well being of our customers) as we are. We appreciate the importance that our customers place on the environmental impact of products that they allow into their homes, and we continually strive to ensure that our efforts reflect our understanding of the need for environmentally friendly and sustainable products.
What We Do
Actions speak louder than words. In view of the less rigid standards that exist in many emerging countries, we make sure that the melamine laminated particle board (the major raw material in our products) is produced almost entirely in North America. Our suppliers adhere to the standards described below and in doing so (and by maintaining the certifications and associations that they do), we can rest comfortably knowing that our products are in conformance with the latest and most demanding standards to assure eco friendliness and sustainability.
FSC – Solid chain-of-custody wood-fiber supply practices have enabled our suppliers to achieve Forest Stewardship Council® certification. This ensures products are comprised of materials harvested only from sustainable and responsibly managed forests.
CARB Phase 2 – The particleboard we utilize is currently compliant with the Phase 1 limit (0.18 ppm) of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Our supplier has also received third party certification for CARB Phase 2 compliance (0.09 ppm, in effect 1 January 2011). This compliance covers all products produced including NAUF (no-added urea formaldehyde) particleboard.
Materials used by The Closet Works, Inc. can be part of LEED certification Materials and Resources (MR) credits. Our panels qualify for up to 6 credits in the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
SCS – Our board supplier has received independent certification that its raw particleboard panels contain recycled and recovered wood fiber only.
EPP – Our panels have been granted Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) Certification by the CPA. Environmentally preferable products, as defined by Federal Executive Order 13101, are “products and services (that) have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to other products and services that serve the same purpose.” Our particleboard panels are compliant with both the CPA Certification Program specification for particleboard and HUD Formaldehyde Emission Standard 24 DFR Part. 3280.303.
ISO 14001 Certification – The Environmental Management System employed by our board supplier has been assessed and registered by SGS as meeting the requirements of ISO 14001: 2004. The scope of registration covers the significant environmental activities at the site of manufacturing of raw and overlaid particleboard. Our board partner is the first company member of the Composite Panel Association (CPA) and producer of particleboard and thermofused melamine panels whose environmental management system meets the requirements of ISO 14001.
ISO 9001 Certification – ISO 9001 certification ensures that our board supplier has implemented a quality control system and that the exacting procedures are used for continuous performance improvement.
And If You Want an Even GREENER Product – We can offer a Non-Added Urea-Formaldehyde (NAUF) Core that has all of the design and durability advantages of our standard board, with an added environmental bonus – it uses a no-added urea-formaldehyde (NAUF) binder system. This product Complies with CARB 2 – the worlds most stringent indoor air quality standard and also features 100% recycled wood residues and recovered post-consumer wood fibers. This board is manufactured in dedicated production runs and delivery times and costs exceed those of our standard products. Please contact the office for additional details.
