No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) Plywood
Engineered wood bonded with soy-protein or NAF MDI adhesive — engineered performance without UF off-gassing.
Toxicity Screening — All Clear
This material screens clear across all seven independent toxicology authorities we use on every project.
Material Type
Formaldehyde-Free Engineered Wood Panel
Material Description
No-Added-Formaldehyde (NAF) plywood is engineered wood that uses soy-protein-based adhesive, lignin-based adhesive, or MDI bonded under controlled conditions instead of the urea-formaldehyde resin that dominates conventional plywood. CARB Phase 2 and TSCA Title VI both define emission limits; NAF products go further by eliminating the source altogether. Once cured, MDI-bonded plywood has the same structural performance as UF-bonded plywood with essentially zero formaldehyde emission. The MDI process must be properly cured to avoid residual isocyanate — EBH specifies NAF plywood with documented cure protocols, and never accepts NAF claims without third-party emission test reports.
Composition & Origin
Health Profile — All Endpoints Clear
Severity scored 0–10 against the same 10 hazard endpoints we use for the chemical families on the avoid list. Every score is 1–2 — essentially no signal across every endpoint.
Common Forms & Brands
- Columbia Forest Products PureBond (soy-protein bonded)
- Roseburg SkyBlend (NAF particleboard)
- Sierra Pine Medex (NAF MDF)
- Common framing: NAF plywood, NAF OSB, NAF MDF, NAF particleboard
Why We Use It
- Zero formaldehyde emission once fully cured
- Structural performance identical to UF-bonded plywood
- Soy-bonded NAF uses agricultural byproduct as the binder
- Requires third-party emission verification — never accept claims without test data
- MDI-bonded products must have documented full-cure protocols
Where It Performs Best
- Cabinet box construction
- Subfloor and underlayment
- Roof and wall sheathing
- Interior millwork and built-ins
Building Applications for No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) Plywood
Listed alphabetically. Where in a home this material earns its keep.
Cabinet Box Construction
Interior Millwork & Built-ins
Roof & Wall Sheathing
Subfloor & Underlayment
Veneered Door Cores