KCMA adopted a significant change to its six-year old Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) requirements for kitchen cabinets and bath vanities that went into effect on January 1, 2012. Now, in order to qualify to display the unique ESP seal, companies must use third-party certified 100% low-formaldehyde CARB-compliant composite wood in the construction of cabinets. The CARB emission levels are the lowest permissible levels in the world for composite wood products and are scheduled to apply to the entire U.S. later next year. ESP certified products meet the low-formaldehyde standard now – more than a year ahead of that date.
KCMA’s Environmental Stewardship Program was designed to be forward looking and to demonstrate KCMA’s role as a leader in environmental protection within the cabinet manufacturing industry. The ESP seal provides assurance to consumers and specifiers that the companies and cabinets meet high environmental standards, and that the cabinets are constructed from sustainably harvested materials with low formaldehyde emissions.
