RESTON, VA – At its November meeting, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) Board of Directors approved measures to strengthen and clarify requirements for companies to attain certification under the association’s Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP). The new KCMA ESP 04-11 criteria will become effective January 1, 2011. Currently over 140 companies/brands are ESP certified.
The ESP encourages a holistic approach to environmental stewardship, awarding points for low-formaldehyde emitting materials, raw material sourcing, setting standards for manufacturing processes which protect the environment, and making a positive difference in communities. To be certified, applicants must earn points in each of five ESP categories: Air Quality, Product Resource Management, Process Resource Management, Environmental Stewardship and Community Relations.
“The KCMA Board of Directors reviews the ESP specifications annually and acts on the recommendations of its ESP Committee. Third party verification continues to be a critical part of the program,” said Dick Titus, executive vice president of KCMA. “By re-evaluating these specifications each year, we ensure that ESP maintains its credibility by keeping up with the latest technology, changes in industry standards and new federal/state regulations.”
As it has since its 2006 inception, ESP continues to encourage increased use of low-formaldehyde-emitting materials in cabinetry. Beginning January 2011, 80% of all panel purchases (particleboard, MDF, thin MDF and hardwood plywood) must comply with CARB ATCM formaldehyde emission limits. All such products must be certified by CARB approved third-party certifiers (TPC’s) in order to quality. The CARB requirements for formaldehyde emissions are the lowest in the world for composite wood products.
To protect the forests and insure the future availability of lumber resources, ESP now will double the credit points awarded in the Product Resource category for the use of hardwood and softwood lumber, and hardwood and softwood plywood that has been certified through a recognized sustainable forestry program.
With another addition to the program, points now will be awarded in the Product Resource Category for cabinet manufacturers who have received Chain-of-Custody certification (COC) through a recognized sustainable forestry program and can offer this COC certification on at least one product line or offer it as an order option for those purchasing cabinets.
KCMA ESP certified cabinets can be identified by the ESP seal, located on sink base and vanity base of all certified lines.
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, headquartered in Reston, VA, is the principal trade association in the United States for manufacturers of kitchen cabinets, bath vanities, decorative laminate products and suppliers to the industry. The KCMA is committed to excellence in manufacturing through continued quality, advocacy and leadership. The ESP program was launched in 2006 and is audited each year by an independent third-party environmental auditing organization. KCMA also administers an ANSI-approved performance testing and certification program for cabinets.
SOURCE: Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn.
The ESP encourages a holistic approach to environmental stewardship, awarding points for low-formaldehyde emitting materials, raw material sourcing, setting standards for manufacturing processes which protect the environment, and making a positive difference in communities. To be certified, applicants must earn points in each of five ESP categories: Air Quality, Product Resource Management, Process Resource Management, Environmental Stewardship and Community Relations.
“The KCMA Board of Directors reviews the ESP specifications annually and acts on the recommendations of its ESP Committee. Third party verification continues to be a critical part of the program,” said Dick Titus, executive vice president of KCMA. “By re-evaluating these specifications each year, we ensure that ESP maintains its credibility by keeping up with the latest technology, changes in industry standards and new federal/state regulations.”
As it has since its 2006 inception, ESP continues to encourage increased use of low-formaldehyde-emitting materials in cabinetry. Beginning January 2011, 80% of all panel purchases (particleboard, MDF, thin MDF and hardwood plywood) must comply with CARB ATCM formaldehyde emission limits. All such products must be certified by CARB approved third-party certifiers (TPC’s) in order to quality. The CARB requirements for formaldehyde emissions are the lowest in the world for composite wood products.
To protect the forests and insure the future availability of lumber resources, ESP now will double the credit points awarded in the Product Resource category for the use of hardwood and softwood lumber, and hardwood and softwood plywood that has been certified through a recognized sustainable forestry program.
With another addition to the program, points now will be awarded in the Product Resource Category for cabinet manufacturers who have received Chain-of-Custody certification (COC) through a recognized sustainable forestry program and can offer this COC certification on at least one product line or offer it as an order option for those purchasing cabinets.
KCMA ESP certified cabinets can be identified by the ESP seal, located on sink base and vanity base of all certified lines.
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, headquartered in Reston, VA, is the principal trade association in the United States for manufacturers of kitchen cabinets, bath vanities, decorative laminate products and suppliers to the industry. The KCMA is committed to excellence in manufacturing through continued quality, advocacy and leadership. The ESP program was launched in 2006 and is audited each year by an independent third-party environmental auditing organization. KCMA also administers an ANSI-approved performance testing and certification program for cabinets.
SOURCE: Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn.
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