Is there a safe MDF? formaldehyde & anti-fungicide free, etc? Or a green sealant?

Elize St Charles May 23, 2020Last updated: Sept. 14, 2020

I like the look of MDF wall tiles for a green-build modern cottage I'm constructing. It also saves wall prep , texturing, layers of painting, dust and all the labor involved.

Responses (1)

Robert J. Pierson June 19, 2020, 1:55 p.m. Reply

There is one non-toxic MDF alternative we know of, though we are not in a position to say what level of production they are in and the current level of product availability as it is just a news story about a product we found and wanted to share. See here –

MDF Formaldehyde Free Alternatives Buying Guide

If you’re not able to get your hands on the rice stalk MDF, other options would be using solid wood like Pine, or alternatively you could look into hemp building materials, there are non-structural boards that could be ripped into strips for trim if that is what you were looking for the MDF for.

Professional services

Related Advice

Are there non-toxic quartz kitchen counters?

Posted by Jackie kierulf June 27, 2018, 11:08 a.m. Healthy indoor air quality 2 Responses

Do you have suggestion for non-toxic closet design company, or materials?

Posted by Nicole Lucas Haimes Oct. 11, 2019, 10:51 p.m. Materials and resources 1 Responses

What is safer than OSB for someone with multiple chemical sensitivities?

Posted by Ian Smith April 27, 2020, 1:01 p.m. Healthy indoor air quality 1 Responses

Where can I find formaldehyde free cabinets that aren't plywood?

Posted by Camille Young Dec. 3, 2019, 7:56 p.m. Kitchens 3 Responses

Where can i buy hemp batt insulation in Western Canada?

Posted by Jen Moffat Aug. 14, 2020, 11:14 p.m. Insulation and soundproofing 3 Responses

Where would I apply for interest free loan?

Posted by Pat Morrison Aug. 31, 2020, 9:18 a.m. Grants and incentives 3 Responses

I want to insulate the outside of my house, which type of insulation do you think is best?

Posted by J. Ferguson Nov. 15, 2017, 10:34 a.m. Wall assemblies - renovation 10 Responses

For home renovation, is it better to install insulation on the inside or outside?

Posted by Neil Richardson Jan. 29, 2019, 4:09 p.m. Wall assemblies - renovation 1 Responses

Are mice droppings and urine toxic?

Posted by JT Nov. 14, 2017, 4:49 p.m. Pest control 1 Responses

Where can I buy hemp batt insulation in Canada?

Posted by Jen Moffat Sept. 23, 2020, 12:48 p.m. Insulation and soundproofing 1 Responses

Can you put hemp insulation in an attic?

Posted by Pamella Weatherly-Phillips Aug. 16, 2019, 11:49 a.m. Roof assemblies - renovation 1 Responses

Where can I find certified Green builders in Ontario?

Posted by David Gonzalez March 25, 2020, 4:14 p.m. Planning and Design 1 Responses

How do you fix a moisture problem in a finished basement?

Posted by Margo MACFARLANE Oct. 28, 2019, 10:24 a.m. Foundation and basement improvements 1 Responses

What is the best way to insulate the ceiling of my crawl space?

Posted by Judy Mendel Feb. 17, 2020, 11:10 p.m. Crawl spaces 4 Responses

What is the best option for building our next resilient home?

Posted by John Bae Aug. 27, 2019, 3:55 p.m. Efficient home design 1 Responses

What type of Insulation can I use on the exterior of my home?

Posted by Scott Muller April 18, 2019, 2:19 p.m. Wall assemblies - renovation 6 Responses

What is the best way to finish a concrete floor?

Posted by Steven P. Aug. 17, 2017, 3:04 p.m. Flooring and stairs 1 Responses

Where can I purchase non-toxic interior wall panels near Laval, Quebec?

Posted by Louise Goulet Nov. 30, 2019, 1:14 p.m. Basements improvements 1 Responses

Where can I find Natural Interior Paint?

Posted by Ramana Murty April 2, 2020, 4:45 p.m. Paints, finishes and natural coatings 1 Responses

What is the best wall & insulation combination for Colorado?

Posted by Jacob Johannessen July 2, 2020, 11:13 a.m. Efficient home design 1 Responses

Is hemp insulating wallboard available in Canada?

Posted by Robin Bakker June 2, 2020, 1:08 p.m. Insulation and soundproofing 1 Responses

Where can I find building plans for an eco home?

Posted by Derek Kittilsen Aug. 4, 2019, 12:09 p.m. Planning and Design 5 Responses

How do you prevent walls from rotting in humid climates?

Posted by Rose Alderson Nov. 5, 2018, 4:34 p.m. Wall assemblies - new construction 1 Responses

What is the best material to use for wall and roof insulation?

Posted by Babak K July 12, 2020, 8:43 p.m. Insulation and soundproofing 1 Responses

How do you do a vapor barrier in a dense pack cellulose wall?

Posted by Ian MacKay July 26, 2018, 2:48 p.m. Wall assemblies - renovation 4 Responses

Related Guide

Healthy indoor air quality

The formaldehyde-free MDF non-toxic alternative made of natural rice-stalks

Formaldehyde-free & Eco-friendly MDF alternative interior finishing wood products such as Rice Stalk MDF panels are coming to the USA & Canada. Zero VOC to imp…

Kitchens

Choosing green kitchen countertops for sustainable homes Including LEED v4 & Passive House PHIUS+ certified

Kitchen counter alternatives to pressed wood: composite paper, aluminum, recycled porcelain, glass and quartz. Here is a look at their durability and cost. The…

Flooring and stairs

Natural non-toxic hemp flooring by HempWood & Tennessee Wood Flooring

Natural building materials such as hemp flooring or HempWood contribute to healthy indoor air quality; they can also act as carbon storage & preserve natural r…

Insulation and soundproofing

Non-toxic natural building insulation made of grass

Natural insulation materials such as hemp insulation, cellulose (including grass based), wood fiber, straw and cotton act as carbon storage and reduce embodied…

Interiors

Are laminate countertops good for a sustainable green home?

Laminate countertops are traditionally a "cheap" counter option, favored by cookie-cutter home builders, but as there are now better laminate countertops out t…

Kitchens

Formaldehyde-Free Green Kitchen cabinetry for a Non-toxic Home - Price Comparisons

Kitchen cabinets can off-gas formaldehyde and countless other chemicals for years after they have been installed. Here is a price comparison of some Green Kitc…

Doors and trim

Interior finishing

Whether you are renovating or building, the materials you choose for interior finishing will affect not only aesthetics, but also indoor air quality. Here is a…

Related Advice

Are there non-toxic quartz kitchen counters?

Do you have suggestion for non-toxic closet design company, or materials?

What is safer than OSB for someone with multiple chemical sensitivities?

Where can I find formaldehyde free cabinets that aren't plywood?

Where can i buy hemp batt insulation in Western Canada?

Where would I apply for interest free loan?

I want to insulate the outside of my house, which type of insulation do you th…

For home renovation, is it better to install insulation on the inside or outsid…

Related Guide

The formaldehyde-free MDF non-toxic alternative made of natural rice-stalks

Choosing green kitchen countertops for sustainable homes Including LEED v4 & Pa…

Natural non-toxic hemp flooring by HempWood & Tennessee Wood Flooring

Non-toxic natural building insulation made of grass

Are laminate countertops good for a sustainable green home?

Formaldehyde-Free Green Kitchen cabinetry for a Non-toxic Home - Price Comparis…

Interior finishing

Prefab Passive House & LEED ready kit homes - the future of buying a new home?

Latest posts

What causes Frost Heave? Preventing frost heaving is down to good foundation de…

Do Laundry balls work?

The UK Competition and Markets Authority is investigating "Greenwashing" of Pro…

Efficiency Capital Achieves Canada's First Retrofit IREE Certification