| Cambium’s Commitment To Sustainability | ||||
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| Cambium Studio is dedicated to working in an environmentally responsible fashion. We demonstrate this commitment through our choice of materials, finishes, joinery and overall approach to design. Our ideal is to use “low impact” renewable resources that are produced locally, in a sustainable manner, and are non-toxic in their production, use and eventual decay. We'd like to state up front that we admit to bending and even breaking the rules for some of our one-of-a-kind commissions. Our primary goal is to create furniture a) that functions really well, b) looks great c) and is cherished by our clients. There are many shades of green and almost all materials, finishes and overall designs have their pros and cons. That said, here are some Eco-friendly aspects of our business: Materials Being locally produced, grown and harvested in a responsible manner, non-toxic to ecosystems, manufacturer, or end-user, renewable, and appropriate for their intended function are all contributing “green” factors, in our minds. Some of the eco-friendly materials that we use include domestic, FSC and reclaimed lumber, wheatboard, bamboo, glass, cork, Forbo products, rubber, stone, “eco-resin” and found objects. Among the deepest green materials are the reclaimed items. By reusing these materials, we imbue our work with their own past lives and prevent the materials from heading to the landfill. Trees that fall in Brooklyn during a storm or framing timber salvaged from an old industrial building, or parts stripped off a defunct, old metal working machine or piano…. all bring with them a sense of “history” and memory, often collective, and can increase a person's attachment to it. Finishes Next comes selecting a finish that is appropriate for the material and its forecasted use. Sometimes that means shellac, HVLP sprayed water-based lacquer, wax, or natural nut oils. Our favorites are ones that are non-toxic to produce, apply and live with, and that cure lustrous and tough. There are many great products available to choose from (and many duds) and we have a growing library of those that are effective and perform well. We also offer super-tough sprayed finishes. These tend to be a bit more toxic, but also much more wear resistant. We believe there are applications, from time to time, that warrant their use and we accommodate clients who specifically request them. Joinery Unlike much of the furniture out there today, our pieces are built to last. We make use of traditional, as well as modern, joinery techniques that make our pieces strong and durable. We use mortise and tenon, spline joints and others, but our “go to” joint is most often the sliding dovetail. We are not opposed to using machine made joinery as it helps precision and keeps costs down |
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