KCMA ESP Leads the Cabinet Industry Towards Sustainability

Marshall, Texas – MasterCraft Wood Products is pleased to announce it has been awarded
Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) certification. With acceptance into this program,
MasterCraft is taking a positive step towards protecting the environment and producing
environmentally responsible cabinets. The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA),
the non-profit trade association dedicated to supporting the cabinet industry, launched the
Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) in 2006. KCMA developed ESP to encourage
environmental responsibility within the cabinet industry as well as give cabinet manufacturers an
opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the environment. ESP is being embraced by a
rapidly growing number of cabinet manufacturers.
“When developing ESP, KCMA felt it was important that the program hold the industry to
high standards. We wanted to ensure cabinet manufacturers worked toward environmental
responsibility starting with growth and harvesting of raw materials all the way through manufacturing
of the end product,” says Dick Titus, executive vice president, KCMA. “To be awarded ESP
certification, MasterCraft complied with a number of rigorous criteria in categories of air quality,
product and process resource management, environmental stewardship and community relations.”
Manufacturers must meet criteria in each these categories, including:
• 75% of particleboard, plywood and MDF must be certified to meet the lowest formaldehyde
emission standards;
• 75% of particleboard and MDF used must contain 100% recycled or recovered fiber content;
• Hardwoods must be certified through an independent and credible forestry program;
• A documented energy conservation program must be in place;
• A written Environmental Management System must be available and enforced;
• A recycling program for process wastes must be in place;
• All federal, state and local environmental requirements must be observed; and
• Community involvement and leadership through service or charitable organizations must be part of
the company’s culture.
The result of such a rigorous program is that MasterCraft can offer cabinets that are verified as
environmentally responsible. ESP certified cabinets are identifiable by the ESP seal. This seal offers
building professionals and consumers the comfort and assurance that the cabinet manufacturer in
question is dedicated to protecting the environment