Columbia Forest Products Teams Up With Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro

Supplies PureBond® Formaldehyde-Free Hardwood Plywood for Builders Blitz

October 20, 2008 – Greensboro, NC – Columbia Forest Products, who relocated their corporate headquarters here in January, teamed up with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro to support their builder's blitz that took place October 10-15.

Columbia arranged for the donation of the kitchen and bath cabinets for the four Habitat homes built during the blitz, and was also a day sponsor of the event.

One of Columbia's customers, Executive Kitchens of Simpsonville, South Carolina, built the cabinets using Columbia's formaldehyde-free PureBond® hardwood plywood.

Raising Roofs is a partnership of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro and the Greensboro Builders Association. Since 2003, hundreds of builders, suppliers and subcontractors have built dozens of homes in different one-week builds.

One new element this year to the Raising Roofs build was the construction of the homes in accordance with the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. By incorporating green building practices along with a third party certified inspection process, the Raising Roofs homes are being constructed to achieve the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) green certification.

The cabinets in these homes satisfy key criteria for the NAHB program's Section 5, which deals with indoor environmental quality and minimizing pollutants. They feature Columbia's PureBond® hardwood plywood, which contains no-added-urea-formaldehyde resins.

Columbia began converting its seven North American mills to the PureBond® resin technology in 2005, and since then, has produced over 50 million panels with this proven soy flour-based system. In addition, Columbia makes the PureBond® technology available to its competitors and to producers of mdf and particleboard composite wood panels.

Todd Vogelsinger, Director of Marketing for Columbia Forest Products, said that "our formaldehyde-free PureBond® veneer core hardwood plywood is becoming a favorite of builders, cabinet shops and homeowners who seek the traditional appeal of sustainably-harvested wood, without the risk of toxic off-gassing."

"We are delighted that we are able to demonstrate the beauty and practicality of our PureBond® products through this Habitat for Humanity project. We want to show that 'clean and green' home furnishings can be made available to consumers at all economic levels."

Columbia makes their PureBond® veneer core hardwood plywood available at a "cost-neutral" basis. "We didn't move the price up, when we took the formaldehyde out," said Vogelsinger.

"For years we have built all Habitat homes to meet Energy Star standards which translates into huge savings for our homeowners on their utility bills," said Winston McGregor, Executive Director for Habitat Greensboro. "With this effort we're taking our green building to the next level and learning what additional innovative practices we can incorporate into our construction program."

"The meaning of 'green' design has expanded well beyond energy savings to include topics like indoor air quality, which matters very much to people with small children or those with breathing issues like asthma," said Vogelsinger. "It's very encouraging to see Habitat accounting for healthier interiors in the projects they are undertaking."

About Columbia Forest Products

Founded in 1957, Columbia Forest Products is North America's largest manufacturer of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer, a leader in sustainable forestry, and innovator of formaldehyde-free PureBond® technology.

Columbia's decorative interior veneers and panels are used in cabinetry, furniture, architectural millwork and commercial fixtures. Employee-owned and based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Columbia employs more than 2,000 and operates facilities throughout the United States and Canada, and an operational network which spans the globe.

For more information, visit: columbiaforestproducts.com
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About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro has been putting faith into action since 1987, partnering with hard-working families to build more than 320 homes, restoring hope and dignity to their lives that poverty housing strips away. Habitat Greensboro is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which is headquartered in Americus, GA. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ministry that brings together people of all faiths to work as partners with people in need around the globe – building decent, affordable homes and eliminating poverty housing. For more information about their programs, please visit www.habitatgreensboro.org or call (336) 275-4663.