Home renovation - redesigning kitchens

Building a kitchen that lasts means better sustainability

Being housebound forces us to consider how well our homes are serving our needs. In particular, with restaurant closures, we’re spending a lot more time in the kitchen. As a result, we’re likely finding it hard to keep ignoring the things that bother us or just aren’t working – the drawers that don’t slide properly, the lack of usable storage space, the scratches on the cabinet doors, to name a few. It’s time for a kitchen renovation. And for many of us, sustainable options are a must-have.

The key to sustainability, of course, is long-term thinking. A truly sustainable approach means that we have to think beyond right now so that our new kitchen will last not just for years, but for decades.

“We believe that a kitchen should be beautiful and functional for 20 to 25 years,” says Valérie Brière, brand and communications director for Miralis, a Quebec-based company that uses innovative quality materials and intelligent design to build kitchens that stand the test of time. “This is one of our biggest environmental commitments.”

The design of such a timeless kitchen is critical to its functionality and aesthetic. But the success of any design depends largely on the materials. “The materials or products bring a design to life,” says Brière. “So if the products you choose aren’t good, your kitchen won’t be either.”

When it comes to sustainability, there can be an assumption that natural products are better. “Many people choose kitchen cabinets made of wood, thinking that wood is a healthier choice for the environment, but that’s not necessarily the case,” says Brière.

Raw materials alone do not determine sustainability. In fact, reconsidering how we consume can make a far greater impact. “If we change our consumption habits and plan for a kitchen with a longer lifespan, there will be less impact on the environment because there will be less material used overall, less transport of materials and less packaging,” explains Brière. “So it’s more about choosing quality materials that will serve you for a long time than just deciding between natural and engineered.”

It’s also important to consider how kitchen products are made. Are they mass produced or made in small batches? Are they made using energy-saving processes? Is there a lot of waste in their production? Elements of this nature factor into sustainability as well as the quality of products. “At our energy-efficient Quebec factory, we innovate with unique machines and robots that have been researched and developed in-house for consistency and quality,” says Brière. “And our people meticulously build our products for longevity and functionality so they’re ready to meet any custom requirements.”

“Because everything we do is custom, it gives designers freedom to create,” adds Noémie Bernier, head of product innovation for Miralis. That means designers can come up with kitchen solutions that are best suited to your specific needs, rather than forcing you to select something that doesn’t altogether work. “With customization, cabinets can be sized perfectly for your space and needs, rather than adapting a design to try and make standard cabinets fit,” she says. “And we always work to ensure that we offer the best materials to build whatever the design calls for.”

That’s critical because not all engineered products are created equal. There’s a wide range in quality. Look for features like scratch resistance, water resistance and quality edge banding – the material that’s used to seal the exposed and raw edges of plywood, particle board, MDF or the like. Take FENIX, for example, a high-tech material made in Italy that is very resistant to scratches, abrasion, dry heat and household chemicals. It also has a unique anti-fingerprint surface so you don’t have to continually wipe it down.

“There are different products to meet different needs,” says Bernier. “For a very high-touch area such as around a handle, you want something that is very durable and low maintenance so fingerprints won’t show. We do all kinds of resistance tests on all of our products, including FENIX, to make sure that they will last.” Quality hardware also goes a long way in the life of your cabinets. “Consider drawer slides,” she says. “They experience a lot of wear and tear so they need to be very strong.”

When it comes to sustainable renovation, the longer you can stretch the lifespan of your kitchen, the smaller your environmental impact will be. Choosing skillfully made, durable materials determines how well your kitchen will age. After all, we are tough on our kitchens. So it’s definitely worth making the long-term investment to build a quality kitchen that will last.

Eco-friendly kitchen company initiatives

While there is still much sustainability work to be done, kitchen manufacturers are taking critical steps in the right direction. In addition to their products, consider whether companies are leading the industry in sustainable actions, such as:

• CARB2-compliance, a strict standard for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products

• Use of finishing products with low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions

• Recovery of finishing wastes such as solvents

• Elimination of waste by avoiding batch overproduction

• Use of energy-saving systems and processes

For more stories from this feature, visit globeandmail.com