Q: Why would a customer want to buy "green"?

A: We recognize that different customers have different green priorities. There are a multitude of reasons that a consumer may wish to choose green products. Some are interested in healthier indoor air (low-emitting materials), while others are concerned with reduced environmental impact. Green building also can save money due to the efficient use of energy, water, and materials. It can be a lifestyle choice for others.

Q: Is there a difference between "green" and "healthy"?

A: Most of the time, these terms are used interchangeably but some people see slight differences. "Green" may refer to environmental sustainability like recycled content and resource conservation. "Healthy" can mean improving indoor air quality by selecting materials that eliminate or reduce contaminant sources and ensuring proper ventilation. By design, Crystal's Green-Core plywood addresses both environmental and health issues.

Q: What is "urea formaldehyde"?

A: Urea formaldehyde is a type of resin that can off-gas formaldehyde when exposed to air. Although a very common chemical, formaldehyde is a suspect human carcinogen at high levels of exposure and can irritate eyes, nose, and throat or aggravate asthma at low levels. Keyline and Encore plywood cabinetry includes no added urea formaldehyde Green-Core boxwork materials, adhesives, and low-emitting available finishes that help reduce formaldehyde emissions and prevent indoor air contamination.

Q: What are "VOCs"?

A: VOCs are volatile organic compounds. In the outdoor environment, these chemicals can react with sunlight to form smog. They can also be emitted from some consumer products and building materials and contribute to indoor air pollution. Crystal's NAUF Green-Core plywood materials has zero or negligible amounts of VOCs , are low-emitting, and therefore do not contribute to indoor air contamination.

Q: What does the term "rapidly-renewable" mean?

A: All plant and wood-based products are renewable resources. Typically, plant-based materials are considered rapidly-renewable if they are harvested on a ten-year cycle or less. Bamboo is a woody grass specie that meets this definition.

Q: What does LEED mean?

A: The acronym LEED refers to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a set of green building criteria established by the US Green Building Council for various types of construction projects. Under the LEED system, entire structures or projects become third-party certified, not single products. The available points for cabinetry are a small part of the overall points needed to certify the project. The point structure varies by LEED system and type of project.

Q: What about the packaging Crystal uses to protect its cabinets during shipping?

A: The corrugated cardboard used in our custom boxing machine is made with post-consumer recycled content. The corrugated media is 100% post-consumer recycled fiber and the liner board ranges from 13 - 30% post-consumer recycled fiber content. Crystal's facilities recycle more than 100 tons per year of paper and cardboard so we are doing our part to close the recycling loop.