Formaldehyde free fibreboard

& FSC certified fibreboard

Source formaldehyde free fibreboard AND sustainably managed timber fibreboard, although not the highest level of eco friendliness, it is a better substitute for conventional fibreboard from a health and environmental perspective. Conventional timber fibreboard is a poor choice from an eco friendly perspective. Resins and binders are the main issue as these contain chemical additives linked ill health through VOC emissions in your home.

Description
♦ Fibreboard is a manufactured alternative to solid timber.
♦ Made from timber dust and chippings that are a waste by product from manufacturing.
♦ Base materials are compressed and bonded together with chemical formaldehyde resins that are hazardous to health and contribute to air pollution and poor indoor air quality.
♦ There are different types of fibreboard sheets available: hardboard, medium board (MBL and MBH), soft board (SB), hard density fibreboard (HDF), and medium density fibreboard (MDF).
♦ 10% of the finished MDF product is made up of adhesives/binders/resins.
♦ Some types of fibreboard contains a combination of materials such as flax which is 100% natural and sustainable.

Uses
♦ Suitable for all interior and exterior construction uses as traditional fibreboard.
♦ MDF is typically used for carcasses (kitchen, bathroom cupboards, cabinetry)

Cost
♦ Formaldehyde free fibreboard and FSC certified fibreboards are more expensive than traditional fibreboards.

Advantages
♦ Product contains a high percentage of natural materials.
♦ A versatile board which is easily workable and machined.
♦ Surface is smooth and straight.
♦ Formaldehyde free products reduce the amount of toxic offgassing into your home.

Disadvantages
♦ Formaldehyde free fibreboard is more prone to water damage as moisture resistance is lower.
♦ Formaldehyde free fibreboard still offgas a lower level of formaldehyde contained naturally within timber.
♦ Fibreboard does not hold the same visual appearance as real timber.
♦ Fibreboards need to be finished with paint or varnishes - a number of coats of paint may be needed for an opaque finish, adding to cost.
♦ Fibreboard can be faced with melamine so that the need for painting is avoided, however painting with non toxic finishes is preferred as melamine is typically non eco friendly.
♦ Fibreboard materials sourced from non sustainable timber resources destroys forests, local habitats and adds to climate change.
♦ Conventional fibreboards are cheaper and easier to source – which does not encourage the layman to purchase eco friendly alternatives.
♦ Dissoynate resins are an alternative to formaldehyde, however these have been linked to asthma during production.

Embodied Energy
♦ Transportation and distribution of product increases levels of embodied energy.
♦ As some eco fibreboards are not widely manufactured, sourcing from overseas or long distances will have an impact on embodied energy.
♦ Fibreboard is lighter in weight which means less fuel needed for transportation.
♦ The manufacturing process increased the amount of embodied energy.

Source/Origin
♦ Formaldehyde free and FSC certified fibreboards are not widely available.

Renewable
♦ Timber is a renewable material, however fibreboard must be sourced from sustainably managed forests to limit the destruction of forests.

Recycled content
♦ Fibreboard is manufactured using low quantities of waste timber by products, which recycles waste that would be bound for landfill sites and reduces the amount of forest/timber resources used.

Environmental & Health
♦ Source sustainably managed forest timber (e.g. FSC) and formaldehyde free fibreboard for the least environmental and health impact.
♦ Ensure that the forest is certified and that the timber has a chain of custody certificate.
♦ Formaldehyde free fibreboard must be stored away from other products that contain formaldehyde otherwise they can be contaminated as the other products produce VOCs.
♦ Use only formaldehyde free finishes, adhesives and sealants on these fibre boards so they maintain their eco status.
♦ Formaldehyde within conventional fibreboard releases toxic VOCs into the air during manufacture, construction, use and disposal.
♦ Higher levels of formaldehyde can be inhaled during sawing through dust particles, which causes respiratory irritation.
♦ Formaldehyde is suspected as a carcinogen – please read my article on VOCs – formaldehyde in the health and wellbeing section to find out more information.

Performance
♦ Stronger and more stable than timber.

Recyclable
♦ Post consumer product can be recycled, however check for local recycling facilities.

Disposal / Biodegradable
♦ Timber elements are biodegradable.

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