There are four pillars of sustainability. Today, we will discuss environmental sustainability. Often, we hear about disasters such as the chemical spill in Ohio. This is a reminder that toxic chemicals such as high levels of formaldehyde, are in many of the products we use daily. It is clear that we need to be diligent and evaluate the chemicals we bring into our home via furniture, cleaners, carpets, flooring, etc.  Reducing waste is another important topic when talking about sustainability.  The fewer unnecessary renovations you do (such as replacing kitchen cabinetry every 5-10 years) saves the natural resources necessary to complete the job and reduces landfill. Reducing chemicals in your home as well as waste are both important concerns for living a sustainable life. 

Sustainability should be everyone's responsibility. It is especially true if you live in a large city such as New York, where opportunities to live in harmony with nature are limited. Adopting eco-friendly design in your home will benefit your physical and mental health, and it will also save you money.  Updated appliances, air and water filtration and environmentally safe furniture, cabinets and cleaners will help you enjoy greater energy efficiency, and healthier surroundings. In this article, we suggest how to update your kitchen with sustainable kitchen cabinetry and products that become part of the solution.

If you need a new kitchen, go for quality of design, materials and construction.

Use sustainable materials

In order to achieve truly sustainable solutions, we must choose sustainable, renewable materials when available. Even if your kitchen cabinets end up as waste after many years of use, they will decompose after some time, and their negative impact on the environment will be minimal.

More people are taking an interest in frameless cabinetry. It is very popular in Europe and in New York as well. If you are considering a flat modern door in the frameless cabinet style, check out the website below for some interesting thoughts on sustainability.  Flat doors are typically made with real wood veneer or laminates. Look for products with low or no formaldehyde

https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/design/new-thinking-sustainability-raises-value-laminates

The cabinet box can be made of plywood or particle board. Particle board is made from scraps of lumber, which makes it sustainable. However, many brands use toxic glues.  Do your homework to ensure you are purchasing a product with low or no formaldehyde glues and additives. Our Rutt and Cesar brands of cabinetry fit that bill. Many of the “cheap” cabinets are made with toxic levels of formaldehyde since the glues are cheap. “Cheap” can affect the health of your family.  

We suggest several solutions.

Wood

The logical option is to use solid wood. In addition to being more aesthetically pleasing, the advantage of solid wood cabinetry and doors is that it is a natural and renewable material. On the other hand, artificial materials such as plastic have a negative effect on nature and can stay in landfill for a very long time. Wood is also an excellent choice when it comes to longevity and durability. On top of that, if you decide to refurbish your kitchen at any time, wood is easy to process, and you can just paint it and get excellent results. Make sure to use FSC-certified wood. It guarantees that the wood is harvested and processed in an environmentally sustainable way.

Plywood

Another good option for making sustainable kitchen cabinetry is plywood. Plywood is one of the most popular materials thanks to its functional properties such as strength and endurance. It can also withstand moisture. Since it is made of wood, it is considered a renewable and green resource. An additional advantage is that it is slightly cheaper than solid wood. Check that the wood used is FSC certified. Also, check if the glue used in the manufacturing process contains formaldehyde. Increased levels of formaldehyde is considered harmful to nature and can cause headaches and nausea in humans. Look for products with low or no formaldehyde.

Bamboo

One of the most commonly used materials for making kitchen cabinets is bamboo. Bamboo is an excellent sustainable choice as it is a very fast-growing plant. It can grow up to three feet in just one day.

Use VOC-free paints, finishes and coating

In your plan to renovate your kitchen, a fresh coat of paint is usually part of the project. If you want a sustainable solution, the paint must be free of VOCs or volatile organic compounds. They are responsible for the characteristic smell of newly painted surfaces. These substances are hazardous to health and the environment. Paint containing VOCs can cause eye, throat, or lung irritation. In some cases, they can also provoke headaches, dizziness, and, in the long run, even cancer. Therefore, look for paint that either doesn't contain or has low concentrations of VOCs.  Also check if the finishes on your cabinetry brand have low or no VOC.

Get the design right

A sustainable kitchen is a project that needs thorough planning. Try not to rush; pick a design you like because the whole point is to get a long-lasting and eco-friendly kitchen. Hiring a kitchen designer is recommended for most kitchen projects. If you choose your kitchen design without much thought, you might end up not liking it in a couple of years leading you to redo your kitchen again. But that is what you should try to avoid. It will be a waste of materials and harmful to the environment and your bank account.  Choose wisely, and when you make a choice, buy a sustainable kitchen made of durable and long-lasting materials, so all that money you spend is worth it. 

 If you decide to move anywhere in New York, it would be wise to ask for help form a local crew. They will help you move your furniture safely to your new home. It is better than doing it yourself.

Countertops

You can use different materials for the countertop. You can use reclaimed wood or solid wood with FSC certification. If, for any reason, you don't want a wooden top, you can use other materials such as:
Quartz
Sintered Stone (Chemical free!)

Natural Stone (Granite, marble, quartzite, etc..)

Quartz is an engineered stone made predominantly of quartz and some resin (about 7%). It is one of the most popular materials for both kitchens and bathrooms.  Quartz is more resistant to temperature and scratches than most natural stone. Brand matters since some countries produce quartz and do not follow the NSF health standards.

Natural stones such as granite, require less energy to produce than quartz. Granite is 100% natural and chemical free.

Sintered stone is made entirely of natural materials and does not contain resin, so no toxic substances are released into nature during its production. It is an extremely durable and long-lasting material.

Sustainable kitchen cabinetry: reuse everything you can

Sustainability warrants reusing materials whenever possible. The constant buying of new products and discarding old ones increases the amount of waste and requires additional production resulting in further consumption of energy and resources. And that precisely is what we want to avoid. So instead of buying new door handles, why not reuse the old ones?  Instead of buying new cabinets, try changing the change countertops to give your kitchen a fresh new look. You will help save resources, energy and a significant amount of money.

Conclusion

We hope we helped to inform you of the importance of having sustainable kitchen cabinetry and products in your home.  Your home environment will be healthier with the right choices of the products you install and use.  Consider investing in it; it will certainly be worth it. You will help the environment (which is much needed) and your bank account as well.

Two of our best custom cabinetry brands below are environmentally conscious.

https://ruttcabinetry.com/about/eco-friendly/

https://www.cesar.it/en/cesar/certifications/