News

Our NU Green family of particleboard products

Nu Green 2^®

We have extended the NU Green^® product range with the addition of NU Green 2, a ULEF (Ultra Low Emission Formaldehyde)raw particleboard. NU Green 2 is the lowest-priced environmentally friendly and low emitting board on the market. This new product is FSC^® and ECC^TM certified . It is made using 100% pre-consumer recycled or recovered wood fiber, which saves trees and avoids landfill.

We manufacture NU Green 2 ULEF with a fast-curing resin technology resulting in a product that is environmentally friendly, economical and has emissions well below CARB Phase 2 levels. Formaldehyde emissions from NU Green 2 particleboard are less than or equal to 0.04 ppm, thereby meeting CARB and ULEF standard.

The NU Green 2 ULEF particleboard is made at our Sayabec facility (Quebec, Canada), and can be ordered in the industry’s widest selection of sizes and thicknesses. It is available through our extensive network of distributors, making it readily available in all major markets. This new product is manufactured using the same standards as our other panels, so you benefit from the same quality and consistency that has become synonymous with Uniboard®.

NU Green 2 ULEF particleboard is available in our full collection of TFL colours. It can help you achieve up to 6 LEED^® points, based on the NC-2009 (USGBC), and up to four LEED points with the new LEED V.4 version.

Our NU Green family of MDF products

NU Green MR50^®

NU Green MR50 NAF MDF, the latest addition to the NU Green^® collection, is Uniboard's most eco-friendly moisture resistant solution. This green, high-quality, versatile medium-density fiberboard is FSC^®  and ECC^TM certified. It is made using 100% pre-consumer recycled and recovered wood fiber, which saves trees and avoids landfill.

The NU Green MR50 NAF MDF is ideal for all interior, non-structural applications where periodic humidity exposure is a factor. As a MR50 qualified product, it passes the 24-hour submersion test (MR10) and 6 cycle accelerated aging test (MR30).

NU Green MR50 is certified by CARB. No formaldehyde resin is used during the manufacturing process. Its ultra low formaldehyde emissions are no greater than those released by a tree found in nature. 

It is manufactured at our Mont-Laurier facility with the same specifications as our Excel+® grade MDF so you benefit from the same quality and uniform density that has become synonymous with Uniboard standards of excellence.

NU Green MR50 NAF MDF is suited for both residential and commercial applications such as food service industries, institutional buildings, healthcare establishments, kitchens and bathrooms. It is available as raw or value-added panels in our full collection of melamine colours, in a wide selection of sizes and thicknesses.

The NU Green MR50 NAF MDF can also help you achieve up to 6 LEED^® points, based on the NC-2009 (USGBC), and up to four LEED points with the new LEED V.4 version (available in 2015 in Canada).

NU Green^® FR MDF Fire-resistant

Engineered from finest Canadian FSC^® certified fibre Uniboard NU Green FR MDF is a premium Class A/Class 1 fire retardant engineered wood panel. This sustainable panel is designed for interior use in residential, commercial and instituonal application. It is also ideal for commercial and institutional non-structural applications such as: retail and commercial spaces, interior design, wall partitions, kiosk or stand displays, cabinetery and furniture components.

Having 100% pre-consumer recycled wood content, NU Green FR MDF is excellent for veneering, painting, cutting, and routing applications. This product is FSC^® certified and has a CARB exemption for formaldehyde requirements (NAF). Additionally, the NU Green FR MDF is also rated MR10. It can help to achieve up to 2 LEED^® points, based on the LEED v4 credits.

 

Uniboard MDF is produced using the latest in manufacturing technology. From the 9-foot continuous press to super refining and the latest in sanding and cutting technologies, Uniboard MDF is unmatched in terms of product performance, flexibility and consistent product characteristics.

Whether your project calls for deep machining, painting, or any type of lamination, since 1987 Uniboard MDF has become the industry benchmark for all types of applications. Superior surface quality, uniform density, precisely controlled thicknesses and sanding smoothness are just some of the qualities that set us apart.

Manufactured from softwoods and hardwoods, this renowned solid wood substitute is well suited to a range of applications, such as commercial and residential furniture, store fixtures, cabinets, millwork, moulding, flooring and slotwall.

Uniboard MDF is available in Excel, Excel+^® MR10, Excel +® MAX, Excel +®​ BLACK, Standard, MR50 and Fire-Resistant grades and can be ordered in the industry’s widest selection of dimensions and thicknesses.

Uniboard MDF is the high performance solution you’ve been looking for, and is available in our full collection of melamine colours in both one-sided and double-sided laminates.

Respect for the environment underlines Uniboard^®'s entire manufacturing process. Our environmental policy is based on the sustainable use of natural resources and was implemented with the health and well-being of our employees, customers and the community in mind.

Environmental awareness

Our environmental audit program helps us stay abreast of changing rules and regulations while identifying potential risks in our operations. Long before environmental concerns became mainstream, Uniboard was in the forefront by recycling post-industrial wood waste otherwise destined to be burnt or sent to landfill.

Today, we continue to ensure the proper use of wood fiber waste into value-added and environmental friendly products. Uniboard recuperates and reuses post-industrial and urban wood waste to reduce wood fiber consumption and land filling.

In partnership with our customers, Uniboard developed lighter products with outstanding physical properties that reduce our carbon footprint and help reduce CO² emissions in production and transport. Concerning urea formaldehyde, Uniboard constantly strives to reduce emissions from its products and meet and exceed voluntary industry standards. All our NU Green^® products meet CARB Phase 2 and TSCA TITLE VI emissions standards, the most stringent environmental guidelines in North America. In fact, our NU Green portfolio goes above and beyond CARB 2 and TSCA TITLE VI standards as our NU Green products are also offered in NAF and ULEF options. NU Green products help builders achieve LEED^®** certification, the most recognized program to promote ''Green'' buildings.

All Uniboard mills are ECC™ certified (Eco-Certified Composite by the Composite Panel Association (CPA)). In addition to meeting the emissions requirements imposed by Carb Phase 2 and TSCA TITLE VI, our Mont-Laurier, Val-d'Or and Sayabec mills have exceeded the assessment criteria for the carbon footprint, responsible wood sourcing, the sustainable use of wood fiber, and the use of recycled/recovered fibers and local resources.

Uniboard employees are sensitive to environmental issues and are committed to protecting the environment through their daily activities. The company is committed to the communities we work in and has programs in place to keep the community informed of all initiatives undertaken to improve environmental protection and the quality of life.

We conform to relevant legislation and regulations and go beyond this by adhering to voluntary standards and putting in place more ambitious targets. 

*CARB - California Air Resource Board
**LEED^® - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design^®

Environmental Policy

As a leading North American producer of decorative composite wood panels, Uniboard is convinced that operating a profitable business and maintaining a responsible approach to people and resources are by no means contradictory aims, but that they are actually mutually beneficial. At Uniboard, we work with renewable and sustainable resources, conserve energy, and reduce material consumption and emissions to produce quality products in a clean and safe manufacturing environment. 

LEED

The LEED^® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design®) certification program is a U.S. and Canadian system originally developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The Canadian version, instituted by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), was adapted for the country’s climate, building standards and regulation, in accordance with the principles of the U.S. LEED® program.

All Uniboard products can help you achieve points for LEED® certification.
For more information on the LEED^® certification program, visit www.usgbc.org.

FSC^®

Our facilities are FSC certified for traceability and chain of custody by the Rainforest Alliance.

Our raw particleboard, medium density boards and TFL melamine are now available as FSC certified products (upon request). The NU Green collection of NAF and ULEF particle products are all automatically FSC certified which maximises the value of these products for our customers.

The Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization. It was created in 1993 by a representative group of organizations from 25 countries. Its mission is to promote the responsible management of forests. Its main concept is the chain of custody that follows the product from forest to consumer. To find out more about FSC certification, please visit www.fsc.org.

CARB 2

All of our mills in Quebec have been certified by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) in compliance with regulation ATCM 93120 of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase 2 emissions standards for the production of raw particleboard and medium density fiber (MDF).

Certification of all our production facilities represents a significant step in our efforts to ensure that all our North American operations are compliant with CARB Phase 2 standards. This certification sets us apart from our competitors and signals to our customers that they can continue to count on Uniboard to meet their needs.

Maximum measurement values as per ASTM E1333, tests carried out in major laboratories:

Uniboard, a leader in decorative composite panels, is pleased to announce that it has been approved as a manufacturer of Ultra Low Emission Formaldehyde (ULEF and NAF) particleboard by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Uniboard's use of ULEF and NAF resin in the production of its NU Green® products has earned the company an exemption from the requirements of section 93120.3(b) of the Airborne Toxic Control Measure to Reduce Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products.

For more information, visit:

CARB: www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm

Composite Panel Association (CPA): www.pbmdf.com, www.carbrule.org

ECC

The ECC certification (Eco-Certified Composite) is a voluntary standard developed by the Composite Panel Association (CPA). ECC is composed of five criteria. Since this certification is awarded to a specific manufacturing facility, each facility must meet the stringent requirements for emissions of CARB Phase 2 and comply with at least three out of five criteria established by the CPA. Uniboard's Mont-Laurier, Val-d'Or and Sayabec mills currently meet all five criteria: carbon footprint, local and renewable resource, recycled/recovered, sustainability and wood sourcing.

Click the link below to get more information on the ECC certification (English only).

http://www.decorativesurfaces.org/cpa-green/go-ecc-green.html

Formadehyde emissions grademark certification program 

Uniboard fulfills the requirements of EPA TSCA Title VI (40 CFR 770) and/or CARB 2, CAN/CSA-0160-16, ANSI A208.1 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) Airborne Toxic Control Measures (ATCM) 93120.

Environmental Data Sheet

We are proud to make our Environmental data sheets available to the public, as well as Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and Health Product Declaration (HPDs) for our products since 2016. These data sheets provide insight into the composition of our products. To be able to provide these detailed datasheets in accordance with the analysis criteria of life cycles and ISO 14025, we performed a systematic analysis of the life cycle of our products in collaboration with a third party specialist. 

Certifications

Mills	CARB Phase 2	FSC®	ECC	TSCA TITLE VI
Mont-Laurier, QC
Sayabec, QC
Val d'Or, QC

Uniboard as an employer

At Uniboard®, we are committed to creating a dynamic work environment, safe and inclusive for all our employees. Our approach is to adapt the framework to encourage and support our employees and meet their needs in both a personal and professional way. Through our environment focused on teamwork and collaboration, our employees can find a balance between work and personal life, while continuing to progress in their careers.

We offer an innovative and productive workplace. Uniboard firmly believes in the importance of rewarding individual performance and supporting professional development. The involvement of our employees is critical to our success and we encourage participatory management. 

Uniboard cultivates flexibility, inclusion and innovation in order to express its leadership in the market.

The Uniboard advantage

Innovative products and processes
Uniboard offers employees the opportunity to create and develop innovative products that push the limits of technology.

Health and safety
Uniboard seeks to offer all employees a safe working environment. We believe that health and safety are everyone’s business, and we make them a priority. We strive to achieve zero accidents in all of our facilities by maintaining the highest safety standards and by training our employees and encouraging responsible and safe behaviours. 

Environmental responsibility
For many years, we have been working to reduce our environmental footprint by reclaiming energy from the manufacturing process and by offering products that not only meet environmental standards, but exceed them.