A SUPERIOR PLYWOOD
Baltic Birch is a plywood product made of birch veneers sourced from the northeastern region of Europe around the Baltic Sea. A very strong and lightweight material, birch plywood has been used for cabinets, skateboards, and even large aircraft (including the Spruce Goose). We use Baltic Birch because of its fantastic structural and aesthetic properties. These include:
- Durability & strength
- Light weight
- Crack & warp-resistance due to cross-banded plies
- Fewest voids of any plywood
- Honesty
- The same material all the way through, not using weaker or softer wood in the center
- A thick face veneer - same thickness as the center
- Appealingly light color
- Beautiful fine-grain, due to short growing season of its northern climate
- Attractive, satin-like sheen
- Highly decorative Ripple-figuring (occurs occasionally)
CARB COMPLIANT
All Baltic Birch that Sprout uses in its products is CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliant. CARB regulates the emissions of some chemicals in composite wood products such as Baltic Birch. Current regulations require emissions of formaldehyde in hardwood plywoods to be be less than 0.05 parts per million (less than 0.000005%). All Baltic Birch used in Sprout products complies with or exceeds these standards.
FINISH
Our finished baltic birch is prepared in the Northwestern United States using state-of-the-art UV finish facilities and processes.
Clear or Natural finish is achieved with multiple coats of a non-VOC 100% Solids UV cured finish. The finish is a UV curable epoxy acrylate topcoat made for finishing plywood.
Our Painted finishes are achieved with layers of a water based paint and sealed with a non-VOC 100% solids UV cured finish.
The paint complies with all US regulations, and creates a clean, washable surface which, when taken care of, should last for many years.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Clean painted faces using a mild cleaner. Spray cleaner on the painted surface and wipe off immediately. Remember - Sprout products are not intended for outdoor use. Avoid all contact with oil. If wet, wipe dry immediately. Unpainted faces can be wiped or sanded clean depending on the dirtying substance. Only sand the unpainted faces in line with the direction of the grain.
ECO FRIENDLY
Sprout strives to be an environmentally responsible designer and manufacturer of modern furniture. We take our impact on the environment seriously and work to use smart design to provide a quality product with minimal impact.
SUSTAINABLE MDF
We select materials that are sustainably sourced from the Northwestern United States. Our pre-consumer engineered woods are primarily harvested from forests in Oregon and Washington, both productive forest lands. Oregon and Washington were pioneers in developing sustainable forestry practices dating back to the early 1900s. Strict laws now govern the harvesting and reforestation of federal, state, and private lands. Laws require that harvested lands are replanted and cared for to ensure that forests are strong and healthy for future generations.
LOW WASTE
Sprout modern furniture is designed to use resources as efficiently as possible. Early in the design process, yield is considered and products are designed to minimize scrap and waste. Parts are nested on CNC machines offering high yields.
RECYCLED MATERIALS
Most Sprout products are made from engineered wood products made from pre-consumer recycled materials. In the past when logs were cut into lumber, the sawdust and fall off could not be used. The advent of engineered wood products such as fiberboard has made using all of this material possible. The high strength and uniform material properties of fiberboard make it an excellent candidate for Sprout's Tension Lock Technology.
Sprout storage bins and packaging are made from up to 30% post consumer recycled material. This mix of recycled material and new fiber offers an optimum strength material.
RECYCLABLE
Sprout innovative packaging is designed to use the material where it is needed for protection and minimize material where it isn't needed. Our packaging uses primarily cardboard with little or no foam and is almost all recyclable. Cardboard bins can be recycled after their useful life.
REUSABLE FURNITURE
A poorly designed product ends up having a greater impact on the environment because we have to buy more of it. Sprout products are meant to be well used. Because they are designed for easy assembly and disassembly, you don't need to buy a new bookcase every time you move. Sprout parts are interchangeable and replaceable. If you have a damaged part, there is no need to replace the entire unit.
EFFICIENT SHIPPING
Sprout was designed with e-commerce in mind. Our products are designed to ship as compactly as possible, reducing the energy and resources expended on transporting the product. This results in a more eco friendly product and lower costs for you.
LOW EMISSIONS AND OFF-GASSING
Sprout furniture products are made from CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliant materials. CARB regulates the emissions of some chemicals in fiberboard such as MDF. Current regulations require emissions of formaldehyde to be be less than 0.11 parts per million (less than 0.000011%). All MDF used in Sprout products complies with or exceeds these standards and is manufactured in USA.
