TEAM 7 exclusively uses a non-toxic wood finish of natural oils and waxes. TEAM 7 does not use any paints, stains or lacquers on the wood. The wood is finished only with herbal, non-toxic oils and waxes like walnut, olive and lavender oils and beeswax, and does not off-gas any toxic VOCs.
As high VOC levels (depending on the substance) are brought in connection with problems like eye or skin irritations, respiratory problems, reproductive disorder, cancer, lower work productivity and Sick Building Syndrome (Useful website: Environmental Protection Agency -
www.epa.gov) it is really important to reduce exposure to synthetic materials and toxic chemicals commonly used in the manufacture of furnishing and building materials.
Furthermore, no particle or MDF boards are used by TEAM 7, because they are also a possible source for harmful chemical off-gassing. TEAM 7 also does not use any PVC plastic; other plastic is used only in hardware parts.
Where does TEAM 7’s wood come from? Is it FSC certified?
Wood is a renewable resource, but not infinitely so – only responsibly managed harvesting and controlled re-forestation can guarantee the right balance in the eco-system. 100 % of the hardwood TEAM 7 uses come from certified sustainably-managed European forests that comply with the International Protection of Species Act.
TEAM 7 does not use any endangered wood species or tropical wood as not to encourage illegal clear cutting of the rainforest. TEAM 7 offers its furniture in a selection of solid European hardwoods: Walnut, Cherry, Oak, Beech, Core Beech and Alder; these woods are in ample supply in Europe and not endangered at all.
TEAM 7’s wood is not FSC certified as the FSC certification used in the USA is not the norm in Europe. Also, there is simply not enough FSC certified forests to supply the whole furniture industry. In addition, we must understand that the FSC label addresses only the cutting of the wood and not how the wood is allowed to be treated. The Austrian Ecological Quality Certification and the Eco Certification from the Environmental Institute in Cologne, the Austrian and German eco certifications TEAM 7 complies with, also address how the wood is treated during production, and the healthiness of the wood in its final product; issues that FSC does not address at all.
What wood cutting techniques do you use?
To fully bring out the beauty of the wood grain as well as to minimize wood waste we use the quarter sawn technique for the cutting of our wood boards in TEAM 7’s own saw mill in Hungary.
Does TEAM 7’s solid wood warp or crack?
Wood is a natural material that breathes and moves. Due to TEAM 7’s long experience with wood working and their exceptional care in the preparation of the wood, there is hardly any danger of warping or cracking. After it has been delivered, the wood rests for several weeks to dry naturally and very slowly. Then it is kiln dried to an internal humidity level of 30 %; at this level the wood reaches its maximum stability. The quality of our wood is so exceptionally high that ‘left-over’ wood is sold to premier US piano manufacturer Steinway. For large expanses of wood, for example in table tops and wardrobe doors, TEAM 7 uses the 3-Layer-board technique to counteract the natural expansion and contraction of the wood that results from changing humidity levels in the indoor environment. This construction technique is an added precaution against warping of the wood.
What does TEAM 7 do with the wood waste?
TEAM 7 is fully committed to recycling. More importantly, at TEAM 7 our first intent is always to reduce waste before it is created, for example through the wood cutting technique we apply, or through the on-demand production of the wood boards for our furniture in our own board plant, as well as through the furniture design process.
Wood waste and wood shavings from our saw mill (the Alfa board production plant), and the TEAM 7 manufacturing plant are used to heat the respective production facilities (waste-to-energy principle).
What is Stricktex?
Strick-Tex, the innovative material of the MAGNUM chair cover (trade name: Trevira CS), is a polyester fiber that is fully recyclable. Strick-Tex is tested for harmful substance according to the German Oekotex Standard 100 and meets the very stringent health and safety requirements established for baby articles. Strick-Tex is inherently flame retardant and therefore not treated with PBDE; a health and environmentally hazardous chemical commonly used as a flame retardant. For the MAGNUM chair cover the fiber is knitted (not woven) with different tension points and than pulled over the chair with no additional screws, so it is very easy to dismantle. The knitting technique also allows for a semi-transparent, breathable seat cover with superior ergonomically seating comfort.
What can I do to improve indoor air quality?
As high VOC levels (depending on the substance) are brought in connection with problems like eye or skin irritations, respiratory problems, reproductive disorder, cancer, lower work productivity and Sick Building Syndrome (Useful website: Environmental Protection Agency -
www.epa.gov) it is really important to reduce exposure to synthetic materials and toxic chemicals commonly used in the manufacture of furnishing and building materials.
Therefore, the best way to protect indoor air quality, yourself and others, especially children who have asthma or other respiratory illnesses, is not to use products and materials that emit toxic VOCs, like formaldehyde. Better alternatives are solid wood furniture, low VOC paint, wool carpets or hardwood floors, and so on. And, open your windows. Indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air according to the EPA.
Is TEAM 7 furniture recyclable?
TEAM 7 furniture is designed in a way that materials, like steel or aluminum frames, glass doors, etc. can be easily separated and recycled. The extensive use of adhesives and chemicals is avoided because, besides health concerns, they often render a product non-recyclable.
What do I do if the solid wood has scratches? Can I refinish or repair the wood?
TEAM 7’s solid wood furniture is very easy and cost efficient to maintain, refinish or repair. For maintenance simply dust the wood or clean it with a damp cloth. There is no need to use any detergents. We recommend oiling and polishing the wood with TEAM 7 natural, non-toxic wood oil once a year or whenever the wood seems dull. When the wood surface is scratched sand the surface with fine sandpaper in the direction of the grain, re-oil with TEAM 7 wood oil and polish. Even dents in the wood can be repaired easily by steam-ironing the wood. For detailed information, please, contact your showroom. The big advantage of TEAM 7’s natural wood finish is that there is no need to strip the whole furniture piece with toxic chemicals; instead you can simply spot treat the problem area easily by yourself.
What glass does TEAM 7 use?
The high quality, tempered safety glass used by Team 7 is made of natural and plentiful occurring materials (sand, soda ash, limestone and feldspar) and is recyclable. Glass is inherently very low in VOCs. The paint TEAM 7 uses for its colored glass are water-based and are also very low in VOCs. We don’t use any acrylic glass, as acrylic is a plastic and made of petroleum, a non-renewable, scarce material. Acrylic glass also scratches very easily and has higher VOC emissions.
TEAM 7 also offers an opti-white glass option for some of its table models. This glass options has no natural green tint and is available in a gloss or matte finish.
Are the steel and aluminum furniture bases and frames recyclable?
Promoting the use of recyclable, low VOC materials is a fundamental element of our philosophy at TEAM 7. Steel and aluminum are used in the table and chair programs because all scrap materials from the manufacturing process are recyclable, and at the end of the product lifespan the component material is still recyclable. Furthermore, we design our furniture for easy disassembly.