Related Advice
Related Guide
Latest posts
Responses (3)
- Discussions
- Interiors
- Kitchens
- Plywood
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Non-toxic
- Mdf
- Cabinets
- Particle board
- Formaldehyde-free
- Formaldéhyde
- More
Related products


Laminate as large as life
Learn more180fx by Formica


Venmar Range Hoods BISTRO - VBLDN1 SÉRIE


UV Wood panels - a versatile, beautifully finished hardwood plywood from Columb…
Learn moreUV Wood - hardwood plywood panel
Professional services
Related Advice
Can you insulate an existing slab on grade floor?
Posted by Patrick Berkeley
Dec. 31, 2020, 10:14 p.m.
Foundation and basement improvements
5 Responses
Are you looking for formaldehyde-free cabinets for a kitchen or bathroom? And exactly how sensitive to VOCs are you? To find non-toxic cabinetry materials that aren’t plywood means you will need to use solid wood, and pine has terpenes which are a natural volatile organic compound (VOC), so hypersensitive people have to go with poplar or much more expensive hardwoods. There are manufacturers that offer plywood that will protect your indoor air quality, but for solid wood you are best to speak to a local cabinet maker I think, and to help make the right material decisions I would start on this page here -
Formaldehyde-free green kitchen cabinets for non-toxic homes
Teams taking the Living Building Challenge often need solid wood cabinetry because formaldehyde is on the Red List of materials, which includes phenol formaldehyde used in the zero VOC versions of plywood or fiber board.
The big hurdle here is finding a non-toxic wood finish, which is why I asked just how sensitive you are because zero VOC clear finishes are hard to find, and zero VOC oils are even harder to find. Natural wood finishing oils off-gas natural VOCs, and even that can be a concern for people with chemical sensitivities.
I apologize. I want plywood cabinets. I meant to put no particle board. I am not sensitive. Just want to buy the least chemical off gasing cabinet possible. No formaldehyde and no or at least low VOC's.
No problem at all, here is a link for Columbia UV Wood, we used it for interior finishing on both of our last demonstration houses. it has a UV treated surface finish and there is no fomaldehyde.