ABET LAMINATI Green Initiatives and LEED information

2009 – ABET is welcomed into the GREENGUARD Certification Program^sm.  This certification demonstrates ABET Inc.’s commitment to indoor air quality by meeting the standards of this rigorous third-party testing program for low-emitting materials and products.  The GREENGUARD Certification Program is administered by GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI), an industry-independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to improve public health and quality of life by helping manufacturers build better and safer products.

Click here for Greenguard Printable Certificate for Indoor Air Quality.

The Composite Panel Association has concluded our high pressure laminate (HPL), when adhered to particleboard, actually lowers VOC (formaldehyde) emissions between 80% -95% of the industry average of 0.18 PPM for unfinished particleboard. HPL can lower the emission level to 0.03 PPM, which equals the emissions from raw wood. The source of this data is from informational testing sponsored through the CPA.

2007 – ABET, Inc. mandated a conversion of corporate vehicles to hybrid cars, which provide better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

2004 – ABET introduced Tefor, a 100% recycled surfacing material, which is available in 8 colors. Tefor is also recyclable.

1999 – ABET LAMINATI Lifecycle Assessment document is created. Click here for printable document – ICDLI LCA Life Cycle 1-25-05 Rev.pdf

ABET reuses sample chip books by replacing old pages with new ones. 
ABET also donates sample chain sets to design schools and artists.

Artist creates large chess sculpture with used chips.

Tefor 100% recycled surfacing material

LEED information regarding ABET LAMINATI high pressure laminates:
Tefor surfacing material is 100% recycled from post-industrial waste and a varying amount of post-consumer waste.

Tefor may qualify for:

MR Credit 4.1: 1 Point. Recycled Content: 10%: For materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes at least 10% (based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. The recycled content value of a material assembly shall be determined by weight. The recycled fraction of the assembly is then multiplied by the cost of assembly to determine the recycled content value.

Tefor may Qualify for:

MR Credit 4.2: 1 Point in addition to MR Credit 4.1. Recycled Content: 20%: For materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes at least 20% (based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. The recycled content value of a material assembly shall be determined by weight. The recycled fraction of the assembly is then multiplied by the cost of assembly to determine the recycled content value.

All ABET LAMINATI laminates may qualify for:

EQ Credit 4.1, 4.5 and EA, MR 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials:
Abet’s products have low-emitting VOC levels and no urea formaldehyde resins are used in the production of the laminate. Laminate adhesives used by fabricators should not contain urea formaldehyde as well.

MR Credit 5.1 Regional Materials:
ABET LAMINATI may assist in acquiring MR Credit 5.1 if, “the final assembly of components into the building product that is furnished and installed by the tradesmen” is “within a radius of 500 miles.” See USGBC LEED for Commercial Interiors, Version 2.0, Page 44.

SCAQMD Rule 1168: This is dependent on the adhesive/coating used by the fabricator when using laminate sheets.