PUREBOND PLYWOOD
Columbia Forest Products, North America's largest manufacturer of hardwood plywood and hard-wood veneer,
recently introduced PureBond hardwood plywood. PureBond is made with a new formaldehyde-free, soy-based adhesive,
instead of the industry-standard urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive.
(UF is used as an adhesive in many sheet-good plywood and panel products and is a known carcinogen.)
For its veneers, Columbia also uses wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Not only is Columbia's new line cost-competitive with standard hardwood plywood,
but "PureBond offers even better moisture resistance," says Columbia's Brad Thompson.
The company's decorative interior veneers and panels are used in high-end cabinetry, fine furniture,
architectural millwork, and commercial fixtures. Columbia also produces veneered agrifiber-core panels in the PureBond line,
and the company is converting its veneer-core hardwood plywood plants to formaldehyde-free manufacturing processes.
Credit: Green Builder