Sustainable Model Making

Roseburg’s Medite II MDF is a high strength, MR30 grade moisture-resistant, multi-use Medium Density Fiberboard made from up to 92% of recycled cellulose content. Medite II has no added formaldehyde (NAF), is SCS Certified for 92% of pre-consumer recycled content, CPA ECC Sustainability Standard Certified, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified. Architects and designers can earn LEED v4 Low Emitting Materials Credit Support project credits. Roseburg's Medite II contains less than 7% isocyanate resin. Currently, this is a healthier alternative to most MDF's with as much as 10% resins and more, or use phenolic resins or added formaldehyde.

Classic Core® is a combination core panel construction where cross bands of thin MDF are utilized in place of veneer cross bands.

Classic Core® can be manufactured with bonded crossbands which do not contain added formaldehyde. PureBond Classic Core® may contribute to LEED® 2009 credit IEQ 4.4 and conforms to CARB II exempt emission requirements called for in LEED V4. It contains 95% Biobased Content and has been awarded the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label in the BioPreferred® Program.

Columbia Forest Product's PureBond hardwood plywood is formaldehyde-free, and is instead made with a soy-based binder. This North American-made product is also cost-competitive with standard plywood products, making it a fantastic healthier alternative. It contains 95% Biobased Content and has been awarded the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label in the BioPreferred® Program.

Rubio Monocoat's Oil Finish is a healthy option for wood finishing. A single layer of this product will protect wood from water, heat, and daily wear and tear trough molecular binding with the wood fiber. It is great for use on hardwood flooring, wood furniture or any other wood product. This product creates a finish that is easy to maintain, and it is free of VOCs and solvents.

*Note: This product is sold in two components. Component A is the oil finish and Component B is an accelerator, which speeds the drying process. Although it helps with convenience, we recommend the product to be used without the accelerator as it contains isocyanates, listed as asthmagens and potential carcinogens by OSHA

Paperfoam is a packaging material made from starch, FSC-certified cellulose fibers, water and a proprietary pre-mix. It contains 88% biobased content, according to Bioprefered.gov. It can be recycled within the paper stream and is home compostable. As declared by the manufacturer, the material, including the pre-mix, is free from formaldehyde, solvents, PFAS, flame retardants, bisphenols, phthalates, and heavy metals. It can be injection moulded and embossed.

BioFoam is a plant-based alternative to traditional EPS foams. This product is made from PLA (polylactic acid), a type of polymer derived from the production of sugar cane. Beads of PLA (BioBeads) are made through the fermentation process of the sugar cane, and then are expanded with CO2 into EPS-like pearls. BioFoam is the first CO2 neutral foam in the world, and is Cradle to Cradle Silver Certified.

The Viking Purified Linseed Oil Wax is 100% natural, combining the Viking Purified Raw Linseed Oil and beeswax. It is made in the USA, food-safe and contains no petrochemical additives. Ideal for wood surfaces, including unfinished wood, and can also protect metal, ceramic, tile, and rubber.

The MushLume Lighting Collection consists of pendants, sconces, and table lamps and is literally grown using Ecovative's MycoComposite - a combination of mycelium and regionally sourced non-food agricultural waste. After the mycelium has fully matured, the lampshades are de-molded, dried, and heated, creating a 100% biodegradable lampshade. MycoComposite is biodegradable, naturally flame resistant, and water resistant.

Mushroom® Packaging is made from Ecovative MycoComposite, which is biodegradable, naturally flame resistant, and water resistant. The MycoComposite material is grown and dried within 7 days for ready-to-use packaging. It is 100% home-compostable and has a Class A Fire Retardant rating.

FabriFELT™ is made entirely from sheep's wool. The material is suitable for walls and ceilings, and contributes to sound absorption. FabriFELT™ is disclosed through its DECLARE label. The product is Red List Free, suitable for LEED v4 projects. As a natural material, felt can be recycled: the manufacturer will take it back for recycling or via general textile recycling pathways.

Available for furniture, fashion, and vertical surface applications, this felt product is a high-quality wool material. It contains no formaldehyde, and is 100% VOC free. Filzfelt's wool holds the Oeko-Text Standard 100 certification.

Sheep's wool contains lanolin, a thin waxy coating on the fibers which makes it naturally water and soil resistant. Plus, because wool retains moisture in every fiber, it resists flame without chemical treatment. It can also be 100% biodegradable as it is a natural fiber.

This product can be customized with a flame retardant treatment. We advise selecting untreated textiles whenever possible.

*Ask about budget-friendly "off-cuts".

Hemp oil is a healthier finish and works particularly well on wood. The Real Milk Paint’s Hemp Oil is free of additives, preservatives, solvents, and VOCs. It is thinner than tung oil, making it easier to apply without the addition of a solvent. However, hemp oil is less durable and waterproof than tung oil. Hemp oil is food safe and works especially well on lightly used items.

Tung oil (sometimes called chinawood oil) is an all-natural hard drying wood oil that provides a tough, flexible, highly water-resistant coating or wood finish. Tung oil is available in 3 grades. The Real Milk Paint’s Pure Tung Oil is Grade 1 yellow, the highest grade available. This means that it offers faster drying, superior color, and a long-lasting finish. This product is free of VOCs and other harmful additives. Some prefer it over linseed oil because it dries faster and does not darken as much with age.

Linseed Oil is a natural, solvent-free finish coating derived from flax seeds. Not only does it perform better than petrochemical alternatives - it is also much healthier. Linseed oil is free of toxics such as isocyanates and bisphenols, which are found in polyurethane and epoxy resins. Allback manufactures their Purified Linseed Oil in Sweden. Their Purified Boiled Linseed oil is a drying oil, making it ideal for a final finish on wood and metal.

Ampersand Art’s hardboard is a healthy, sustainable option for model-making. Sometimes referred to by the trade name Masonite, hardboard is a composite wood material that’s made by compressing wood dust. Ampersand Art’s flat panel board is 1/8” thick. It is NAUF, meaning it is made without urea formaldehyde and is made from FSC certified wood.

Stockmar’s Modelling Beeswax is a nondrying wax that warms in your hand to create a reusable molding material. The product carries an AP Seal. It was developed for use in early childhood education, and was designed to be non-toxic and safe for this sensitive audience. In addition to meeting the toxicology standards of the AP Seal, Stockmar commissions an independent residual analysis laboratory to test every batch of ingredients that they use in their products.

Wheatpaste is a natural, non-toxic adhesive. It has been in use for centuries and is commonly used to put up posters, make paper-mâché and collage, and for archival quality bookbinding. Playbox’s product is made from real wheat and is free of preservatives. It is sold in powder form and can be activated by adding water. Alternatively, wheat paste can be easily and inexpensively made at home. There are many DIY recipes, including this one, online. The gluten in wheat flour lends a permanent bond to wheat paste. Changing the ingredients will alter the permanence of the adhesive.

Sustainably harvested basswood is a healthy choice for model-making. Midwest Product’s basswood is harvested in Northern Michigan and Wisconsin, making it a preferable domestic wood.

Blick's Glue Sticks dry clear and create a permanent bond. They are suitable for use on paper, cardboard, and fabric. This product has an AP certification from ACMI, indicating it has been evaluated by medical & toxicological experts as non-toxic.

Blick's Multi-Purpose White Glue works on both porous and non-porous materials. This product has an AP certification from ACMI, indicating it has been evaluated by medical & toxicological experts as non-toxic.

Plaster of Paris, also known as gypsum plaster, is a healthier choice for casting materials. DAP's Plaster of Paris is made from gypsum, limestone, and quartz. It sets in 20-30 minutes without shrinking and is intended for interior use. This product is ideal for hobby, molds, and casts.

Linseed oil paint offers a healthy, durable alternative to acrylic products. Ottosson’s product is manufactured at their facility in Genarp, Sweden, which was established in the late 1980s. The technique used in making their paints, however, dates back to the 16th century. Cold-pressed raw linseed oil and natural pigments are ground in a triple-cylinder mixer, incorporating the pigments evenly into the linseed oil. The result is a linseed oil paint that creates a breathable, easy to maintain surface that doesn’t peel or bubble up.

*NOTE: Ottosson Linseed Oil Paints contain zinc oxide, a natural fungicide. It adds hardness to the paint finish and is a necessary additive in several North American climates. Zinc requires a warning label due to potential aquatic toxicity under Swedish law. When disposed of responsibly and used as directed, it poses no threat to the health of humans or the environment

(as reported by Earth and Flax https://www.earthandflax.com/)

Made primarily from U.S. grown, non-GMO cornstarch, Green Cell Foam is a healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based foams.

This material is compostable, biodegradable, and water soluble.

Its manufacture requires 70% less energy and generates 80% less greenhouse gas than traditional foams.

Isomalt is a product that is made by heating beet sugar, reducing it to disaccharide, then hydrogenating it using a catalytic converter. The end result is a sugar-like substance with lower levels of glucose than traditional sugar. Used most commonly in cake decorating, isomalt has the potential to replace resins or acrylic in model making.

Milk Paint is a powdered paint made from milk protein, lime, clay, and earth pigments such as ochre, umber, iron oxide, lampblack. Milk paint creates a matte, velvet, chalky finish that sticks to a majority of surfaces without priming or sanding. This product is made from 100% organic materials and is free of VOCs.

Mineral paints provide a healthier alternative to acrylic paints and primers as it is made from Potassium Silicate. They avoid asthmagens, are odorless, and are naturally mold-resistant. Keim Mineral Silica Paint has low to no VOCs. It is made from natural ingredients. This product is NaturePlus certified and has Cradle2Cradle Material Health Gold certification. The Innostar Line is a matte, scrub-rate class A finish with a coverage efficiency that allows for one primer & one paint coat only. Titanium Dioxide is being used for pigmenting, the whiter the pigment, the more titanium dioxide.