Summer’s coming to an end and it’s time to make sure everything is ready for the fall. It’s the perfect moment to create sustainable kitchen designs that will inspire your clients; there are many ways to create an eco-friendly kitchen and in this article, we’ll explore the main ones.
A kitchen upgrade doesn’t have to be an incredibly expensive or wasteful undertaking. In fact, it can actually help your clients become more sustainable and transform their space into a revamped and renewed kitchen. There are many ways to create an eco-friendly space in your next project; take a look at some of them here:
- Use sustainable materials
- Reuse materials
- Reface cabinets
- Use formaldehyde-free materials
Sustainable Materials
Although it seems obvious, this first point is the most crucial. At Garnica, we use wood sourced from sustainably-managed plantations in Spain and France. As one of the world’s most sustainable species, poplar trees are fast-growing and purify the water around them; in addition, every m3 of panel absorbs 650-700kg of CO2.
If you’re not sure if the materials you’re using are sustainable, ask yourself the following questions:
- Are these materials produced without depleting natural resources?
- Does the use of these materials disrupt their natural ecosystem?
- Can the materials be recycled once they no longer have a use?
- Are the materials high-quality and long-lasting, eliminating the need for more materials in the near future?
If the answer is yes, you’ve found yourself high-quality materials.
Reused Materials
Before you buy newly produced materials, see if you can find recycled materials that can be transformed into exactly what you need. Not only is this a choice that helps the environment, but usually results in cheaper materials for your project. In addition, you’ll be able to combine different materials to create a unique, innovative design for your clients.
Reface Cabinets
Sometimes making sustainable choices means looking at the whole picture and deciding to only replace what is precisely necessary. This could mean simply replacing the face of the cabinet instead of the entire thing, maintaining the original structure and revamping the part that is seen and receives the most wear and tear.
Although it seems minor, a change such as this can make all the difference when it comes to reducing your environmental impact during construction.
Products with No-added Formaldehyde
Not all the important and sustainable choices come simply from the wood we use. There are many studies that reveal the dangers of using formulas that include formaldehyde; at Garnica, we developed the Naturbind™ adhesive technology to combat this problem.
Garnica’s Naturbind™ technology:
- Meets CARB Phase II and TSCA Title VI global formaldehyde emission standards
- Reduces formaldehyde emissions in NAF plywood by at least 45% when compared to other kinds of panels (MDF, particle board)
- Complies with ANSI/HPVA HP-1 Type II requirements as well as the European UNE-EN 314-1 standard
- Improves indoor air quality for end users and helps prevent respiratory illnesses
This may seem like a lot, but it’s on each of us to make sustainable choices, especially when leading projects and guiding clients. At Garnica, we’re here to make those choices easier through our sustainable, environmentally-conscious products. Don’t wait any longer and find Garnica’s products near you today.
