Soy Flour Ingredient Produces Healthier Wood Cabinetry and Furniture

Does your computer sit on a particleboard desk? How about the kitchen cabinets you’re thinking about remodeling--are the cabinet doors made of wood veneer?

Look closely at the product labels or ask the manufacturer when you’re going to buy wood products for your home or office because these particular products may contain formaldehyde adhesives.

But recent discovery of soy based adhesives to replace formaldehyde use is setting the bar for green innovation in wood cabinetry and furniture. Formaldehyde-free products such as the soy based adhesive called Pure Bond is produced by the commercial joint venture of Oregon State University, Columbia Forest Products, and Hercules, Inc.  

In fact, the team who invented the soy-based adhesives, headed by Professor Kaichang Li of Oregon State University won the U.S. Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Among 60 other award recipients, according to Jim Hutchinson, Oregon State University professor, represent innovations that have contributed to the reduction of 1.3 billion pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents, saved water, and carbon dioxide released into the air. “Green chemistry offers real economic savings and protects the environment,” Professor Hutchinson said. 

The complete list of award recipients since 1996 is available on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Chemistry website.  

However, formaldehyde use continues to affect indoor air quality in homes and offices. Wood veneer if it is placed on top of particleboard may contain formaldehyde resin. In another example, the manufacture and use of wood composite panels, such as plywood, particleboard, and fiberboard are bonded using formaldehyde adhesives, especially urea-formaldehyde resins.  

Formaldehyde resins are hazardous to your health as the toxins are released into the air through high temperatures in the warmer months as well as from moisture and cooking at high temperatures.

The US EPA has proposed the rule, under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) designed to protect the public from dangerous hazards, to regulate formaldehyde use especially in composite wood products, including hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium density fiberboard (MDF). The state of California Air Resources Board (CARB) imposed regulation in 2008 and since has petitioned the EPA to apply the same regulation nationally, which is currently under review.

Wood resources using Pure Bond formaldehyde –free technology are readily available but furniture manufacturers need to integrate these healthier standards. Short-term hazardous effects of exposure to formaldehyde are known to cause sneezing, coughing, skin irritations, as well as burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat. Some people are more affected than others, according to National Cancer Institute. 

Although the long-term health effects are not known, the healthier soy-based choice will eliminate the toxic materials now to benefit public health.