A coalition of sponsors introduced an emission standards bill in early September on Capitol Hill.  Broadly based on the California Air Resources Board’s CARB rule that began last January, this legislation would mandate a reduction in formaldehyde levels in composite wood products–particle board, plywood, and medium density fiberboard.  The EPA says urea-formaldehyde can be toxic, allergenic, and carcinogenic.  It is a VOC (volatile organic compound) that can cause anything from allergic reactions to cancer.  Hopefully, this legislation will pass and the EPA can enact a mandate effective as early as 2011.

Where would I find formaldehyde in my home?  It is commonly used as a drying agent for adhesives in composite wood products such as plywood, MDF, flooring, cabinetry and doors.  Compliance labels may show a product as no-added formaldehyde, ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde, or formaldehyde-free.  The word “added” is due to the fact that small levels of formaldehyde occur naturally in wood.

Be sure to know what compliance you are quoted.  While many producers have already made the change, many are resistant due to the added cost.  The good news is, once there is a mandate, it will be a level playing field and the safer products won’t be passed up for budget reasons.

There are do-it-yourself tests for formaldehyde levels in your home but I recommend finding a professional for an accurate test.

photo: Brian Teutsch

My aunt recently re-modeled her house and wanted to use products that were low VOC, or NO VOC due to her allergies and asthma. When it came to paint we did research and found that Pittsburgh paints (a division of PPG coatings) have products that fit her needs. After looking at PPG we found out that they also use green practices at their production facilities, which means they do not just sell the products, but that they are also doing their part to be responsible.

To achieve its goals of being both a fiscally sound and environmentally responsible firm, PPG has re-engineered many of the manufacturing processes at its paint facilities to minimize energy consumption, improve air and water quality and cut waste. These initiatives include…

1) Each paint manufacturing plant has an active recycling process that includes the re-use of wash water from the production process, the re-work of obsolete inventory, and the recycling of raw material containers and packaging. Other packaging goods — such as plastic and stretch films, super-sacs, cardboard and pallets — are recycled or recovered by suppliers, secondary users, scrap dealers or through third-party contracts.

(2) In 2008, PPG was the first national paint supplier to initiate a recovery program for five-gallon plastic pails used for water-based products. Empty and dry pails are returned to company-owned stores, consolidated and sent to distribution centers for shredding and recycling. In addition to its environmental benefits, this program reduces customer costs by eliminating the need to pay for empty-pail disposa

(3) All gallon pails used for latex products are made from 100 percent recycled polypropylene, and are 100 percent recyclable.

If your goal is to “build green”, be it through meeting local or national VOC regulations, qualifying for LEED points, or consciously attempting to minimize the overall environmental footprint of your building, PPG can help. From residential to commercial to new home construction, PPG’s Pittsburgh and Porter Paints can supply every type of project with a “green” product solution. We offer products that meet the most stringent environmental standards which require either zero or low VOC coatings while delivering the performance you’ve come to expect.

Simply look for the following logo when trying to identify which PPG paint products are considered green and can help earn LEED credits.