"Eco-Friendly" Plywood

[pdlandgang]

I am building some bookcases for a client that is sensitive to certain chemicals and in particular formaldehyde.  They also want an eco-friendly wood.  I have researched and found that Baltic birch might do the trick, but was wondering if anybody knew of anything else.  They are open to real wood, but would like it painted.  I prefer to stick with plywood to speed to overall process.

Any suggestions would be great. 

 

[Dane]

The Columbia Forest Products plywood is all free of added formaldehyde (wood has it's own formaldehyde content, that's why the "added" is in there)  It goes under the name Purebond and is sold at Home Depot nationwide.  You can also order some higher-grade products from Columbia through various lumber dealers like Atlantic Plywood.  I am particularly interested in the Mulitply series which looks to be a "baltic birch" type product in that it has a lot more plys.  I've used miles of the Purebond and it tends to be a pretty good product.  I've noticed that the Home Depot distribution system is where things tend to go awry- I'll often see lifts of sheet goods that have clearly been abused by letting them get wet or sit in a baking hot warehouse for months...so, pick through the stack if you go the HD route.

Plyboo is another company that specializes in high grade "green" sheet goods.  You can get MDF and other core material for doing your own veneer in addition to the bamboo plywood.

 

[vidkid26]

At the AWFS show in Vegas last month I was talking with a rep from States Industries. They have a new ply product that has anti bacterial properties. Mainly going to be for the hospital and medical industry.

 

[polarsea1]

At the AWFS show in Vegas last month I was talking with a rep from States Industries. They have a new ply product that has anti bacterial properties. Mainly going to be for the hospital and medical industry.

I was going to suggest States. They make Appleply as well as regular plywood. A lot of companies use formaldehyde free resins now.

 

[bertv]

Some time ago I was researching birch ply and found a Finnish firm that has a line of eco-friendly plywood. Don’t know about pricing and availability in your neck of the woods.