A Commitment to Keeping the Environment Green

A Commitment to Keeping the Environment Green
An Ongoing Commitment to
Environmental Improvement
Throughout Mouser Custom Cabinetry’s history, ownership and
management have been committed to conservation of resources and
protection of the environment. Since 2000, our corporate commitment
to “green manufacturing” has been expressed through several
important environmentally responsible programs and initiatives.
• Lean Manufacturing processes were implemented to effectively
improve production efficiencies, reduce material waste and
control energy consumption.
• Mouser Custom Cabinetry became a certified member of the Kitchen
Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s Environmental Stewardship
Program and continues to meet or exceed the environmental
standards established by this industry organization.
• The company has established and expanded recycling programs
for paper, plastic, aluminum, cardboard, metal, packaging
material, solvents, and wood waste.
• Sustainable products, such as bamboo and reconstituted veneers,
have been introduced and added to the Mouser cabinet lines.
• Implementation of the Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative, which
promotes the continual search for materials and processes
designed to conserve resources, protect the environment and
improve our way of life.
Mouser Custom Cabinetry will continue
opportunities to improve air quality and
emissions, utilize sustainable products, reduce
material waste, increase recycling efforts,
and demonstrate good corporate citizenship
toward the community in which we operate.
We will hold our suppliers and vendors to
the same high standards we employ, and
we will educate those who are less active in
environmental stewardship programs.
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KCMA Environmental
Stewardship Program
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA), an
industry leader in environmental accountability, introduced the
Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) to establish standards
and monitor progress for responsible and sustainable cabinet
manufacturing. In 2006 Mouser Custom Cabinetry completed the
initial certification process and became an active member of the
KCMA Environmental Stewardship Program.
Annually, Mouser Custom Cabinetry goes through a rigorous ESP
certification process with a cumulative score requirement across
five important categories of evaluation. The five categories of
compliance are:
• Air Quality - Reduction in the emission of hazardous air
pollutants (HAP’s).
• Product Resource Management - Use of recycled and
sustainable products.
• Process Resource Management - Establishing and
documenting recycling, waste management, and energy
conservation programs.
• Environmental Stewardship - Documented commitment to
environmental quality and the review of vendor practices and
policies.
• Community Relations - Demonstrate community involvement
through service and/or charitable organizations.
KCMA Environmental Stewardship
Program Adopts CARB Regulations
In 2009 the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) expanded
the scope and breadth of its Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP)
initiative to include the formaldehyde emission levels enacted by the
California Air Resource Board (CARB). The CARB standards have
established the most stringent international formaldehyde emission
levels on particleboard, medium density fiberboard and plywood.
The Mouser Fleet
Mouser Custom Cabinetry operates a fleet of
company trucks for product delivery to dealer
locations and job sites. Several initiatives have
been introduced to conserve fuel and reduce
emissions.
• Mapping software is used to determine the
Formaldehyde, a by-product of natural metabolic processes and combustion, is also used as an adhesive in a wide range of building products, floor coverings, cabinetry, wall coverings, and furniture. Studies
performed by the California Air Resource Board have identified formaldehyde as a toxic material affecting indoor air quality and creating
health risks for the general population.
By adopting CARB regulations and mandates, the KCMA Environmental
Stewardship Program has committed to the systematic reduction in usage
of materials with added formaldehyde preservative. Mouser Custom
Cabinetry, an active, ardent supporter of the KCMA Environmental
Stewardship Program, has been certified CARB compliant for Phase 1,
January 2009, and Phase 2, January 2010, and has initiated the plans
and preparations for future CARB compliancy target dates.
As further evidence of Mouser Custom
Cabinetry’s commitment to better
air quality in the home, WoodBridge
cabinets are constructed with plywood
that has ‘No added Urea Formaldehyde’.
In addition, Mouser Custom Cabinetry
purchases
materials
exclusively
from U.S. based suppliers that are
conscientious users of natural resources
and provide environmentally friendly
products. Many of these suppliers are
assisting Mouser Custom Cabinetry in
the search, assessment and evaluation
of environmentally safe materials.
most fuel efficient delivery route available.
• On regular intervals, technologically
advanced tractors are acquired to replace
less fuel efficient models. These upgraded
tractors conserve fuel and reduce emissions.
Mouser tractors are equipped with Auxiliary
Power Units to reduce fuel consumption and
decrease emissions. When drivers are shut
down or resting, these Auxiliary Power Units
provide safe, comfortable cabin environments
without running the main engine.
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Finish Recycling
Recycling initiatives incorporated into the Mouser Finishing
Department have proven beneficial to both the environment and
the day-to-day operations of the company. The finish recycling
equipment re-claims the cleaning thinner through a distillation
process by heating it to a sufficient temperature to allow solvents
to evaporate through a coil into a second container. This process
results in a cleaning solvent that is reused in the Mouser Finishing
Department.
Approximately 80% of the cleaning thinner is reusable and is
processed back into the Finish Department for use as a cleaner to
flush residue from the finish equipment and pumps.
The finish recycling process produces a hard, solid residue utilized
as a fuel by other industries, thus resulting in significant
reduction of actual waste that requires disposal.
Recycling - Cardboard
Resource
Conservation
Initiatives
An investment in recycling equipment has
aided Mouser Custom Cabinetry in efforts to
collect and recycle corrugated waste. Nearly
100% of the corrugated packaging received
with incoming material shipments is recycled.
In addition, Mouser Custom Cabinetry offers
blanket wrapped product delivery, which
reduces the company’s consumption of
packaging material. Currently, over
82% of the company’s cabinet
shipments are blanket wrapped.
Sawdust Collection System
Mouser Custom Cabinetry uses an elaborate dust collection
system to capture sawdust and wood shavings for recycling.
Wood waste from the manufacturing process is sent through a
wood grinder for conversion to a usable, recyclable product. All
waste materials are transported to a local wood products recycler
and are prepared to be used as animal bedding, landscape
material, wood fuels or components of other wood products. The
realized benefits are:
• Over 700 tons of waste material never reaches a landfill
• The waste material is converted into reusable products
• The cost of waste removal has been reduced 95%
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Material Optimization Waste Management
In addition to the Lean Manufacturing processes implemented
to improve production efficiencies, reduce material waste and
control energy consumption, Mouser Custom Cabinetry has
long been an advocate of proven waste management policies
and programs. For years the company has purchased sheet
stock in two panel widths, 4’ and 5’, and four panel lengths, 6’,
7’, 8’ and 10’, to maximize utilization of material and minimize the
offal. When combined with sophisticated optimization software
and state-of-the-art, computerized cutting and CNC equipment,
actual wood waste is reduced to the lowest levels possible.
As a long-standing practice, salvageable material pieces travel
one of two courses. Those large enough to be cut into other
cabinet components are returned to inventory for future use.
Smaller pieces of offal are collected and then machined into
dimension parts such as cabinet supports, braces, hanging rails
and cross stretchers. Mouser Custom Cabinetry management
has always believed that conservation of resources begins
with the best utilization practices on the plant floor and that
commitment has never been altered.
Paper Recycling
As a custom cabinet manufacturer, Mouser Custom Cabinetry
uses a significant amount of paper for everything from technical
reviews of orders to custom quotes and engineering drawings for
production personnel. Company initiatives have been implemented
to reduce the amount of paper used and blue paper recycling bins
for non-coated paper have been placed throughout the plant and
office areas. Coated paper items, such as magazines, outdated
brochures, etc., are processed with cardboard waste or shredded
with wood waste for recycling. The benefits are:
• Conservation initiatives continue to reduce the amount of paper
used by the company
• Over 90% of the coated and non-coated paper waste is
recycled
• Improved purchasing practices have reduced waste
in literature, catalogs, brochures, etc.
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Wenge & Zebrawood Reconstituted Veneers
Wenge and Zebrawood, exotic woods native to Equatorial
Africa, are considered threatened wood species in their
natural states. As an alternative to these beautiful, exotic
woods, Mouser Custom Cabinetry uses reconstituted, manmade veneers produced from more abundant wood species and
created to emulate the natural Wenge and Zebrawood. Utilization
of reconstituted veneers is one of several conservation practices
employed by Mouser Custom Cabinetry.
Bamboo - Sustainability for the Future
Bamboo is a fast growing, efficient plant that is comparable
in strength to hardwood trees. Classified as a “grass”, this
woody perennial can grow as much as 48 inches in a 24 hour
period and matures in less than seven years. Bamboo is a
durable, stable and attractive material that does not impact the
world’s timber resources when harvested, making it the most
sustainable material used by the cabinet industry. The Bamboo
products offered by Mouser Custom Cabinetry are assembled
using adhesives with no added urea formaldehyde and qualify for
six
LEED credits related to sustainability.
This kitchen features Prizma EuroStyle cabinetry constructed with plywood that has no added urea formaldehyde.
Mouser Custom Cabinetry Website
www.mousercc.com
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE LINKS
EPA Lean
www.epa.gov/lean/
KCMA Environmental Stewardship Program
KCMA sustainable Forest Beliefs
www.kcma.org
LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
www.usgbc.org
Composite Panel Association Environmentally Preverable Product Program
www.pbmdf.com
Green Home Guidelines
www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines/index.asp
GreenPoint Rated
www.buildgreen.org/greenpointrated
The Formaldehyde Council
www.formaldehyde.org
EPA Indoor Air
www.epa.gov/iaq/
seven
2112 N. Hwy 31W
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Ph: 800•345•7537
Fax: 800•472•5889
www.mousercc.com
MCC-ENVSTD/04-10
100% recycled paper.
price: four dollars