Green Initiatives

Environmental responsibility is incorporated throughout Benson Industries' manufacturing process. We 'build green' by using environmentally-friendly materials, recycling waste, and keeping solvents out of the waste stream.

The substrate of our cabinets is made from wood chips - lumber industry by-products - which are diverted from the waste stream and recycled into composite boards. No additional trees are harvested to produce our cabinets.

The emission standards for all the substrate we use meet the critical California CARB standards, which have now been adopted by many regulatory bodies. 


We can also produce cabinetry which meets current and pending Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for zero emission or no-added-urea-formaldehyde (NAUF) composite panels.

Environmentally Friendly Veneers

When selecting veneers, Benson Industries frequently advocates the use of reconstituted veneers, which are an environmentally friendly option to harvested hardwoods. These reconstituted veneers  are made from poplar trees grown specifically for the production of veneer. Like any other crop, the poplars are planted, grown, and harvested in a 12-year cycle.

The use of plantation poplars as the base wood for reconstituted veneers allows Benson Industries to produce cabinetry that appears to be hardwood but does not involve the harvesting of any natural forests.

Many producers of reconstituted veneers have established environmentally responsible manufacturing processes, incorporating state-of-the-art machinery to minimize pollution; using exhaust and ventilation systems to reduce wood dust and fumes; implementing water reclamation, and utilizing all wood scraps, so nothing is wasted.

The resulting veneers duplicate the look of hardwoods with a more easily replenished wood, an initiative which has earned SGS certification.

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

In addition to seeking out environmentally responsible products from suppliers, Benson Industries also seeks to minimize the company's environmental impact. Whenever possible, waste materials are recycled, both from our administrative offices, and from the factory floor.

• All paper and cardboard is recycled through regional recycling programs
• All metal waste is recycled
• All wood waste is delivered to local greenhouses, where it is used as fuel
• All solvents are handled through our in-house recycling system