Green Page

Icons relating to environmental stewardship

We are going green!  

I was using 3/4″ birch-clad MDF (medium density fibreboard) for the icons. I thought this was environmentally OK as MDF uses wood pulp that is potentially renewable, which could be acquired from sustainably farmed poplar. It is a product of Canada so it is fairly local (from a shipping point of view). There were no assurances that it was sustainably farmed. MDF contains glues that offgas loads of formaldehyde, along with other VOCs (volatile oil content), which make it toxic to work with and a source of indoor air pollution.

Once I learned of the formaldehyde issue, I switched to 3/4″ Lyptus Plywood. This is no-VOC plywood made from responsibly harvested hardwoods in South America. It is lighter than MDF, so shipping fuel use is reduced. It did not shape nicely, however and the edges needed painting. So I kept looking.

In an effort to become increasingly environmentally responsible, I switched to no-VOC 1/2″ Dakota Burl. It is a low-energy input board made from sunflower seed hulls in Minnesota. It is more expensive than the MDF or the Lyptus. Unfortunately, I found that in the process of shaping the edges, the laminated surface of the icons were being scratched and I was using significantly more sand paper and saw blades.  This created a good deal of waste.  

To correct that waste, I recently switched to no-VOC wheat strand board.  It comes from the same area in Minnesota.  It is not as handsome as the Dakota Burl, so I will be using an ultra-low-VOC bordeaux paint for the edges and a low-VOC varnish for the back.  Once dry, both of these offgas no VOCs.  With this change in product, I am not only making an effort to become more environmentally responsible, but also more supportive of the domestic economy by becoming a net exporter.  

I am actually going net negative on landfill as I am re-using some of a couple of neighborhood businesses' scrap wood and fabric in our production.  The scrap fabrics for wrapping are provided by Merrill Y. Landis http://www.merrilllandis.com/index.php. 

Here is what wheat strand board looks like: Microstrand Wheatboard

To learn more about Microstrand Wheatboard, go to:
http://www.environbiocomposites.com/products.php

I think a holy icon should be a blessing in every way. As much as is possible, its physical form should not deplete natural resources or pollute.

Peace,
C. Joseph Coulter
Owner, "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art

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