A Quality and Socially Responsible Product

Graduating from building wooden toys to creating high-end cabinetry, Kanda Alahan, president of Rivendell Woodworks, has worked diligently to create a work environment for his employees where they deliver a quality and socially responsible product.

Part of the company's strategic plan is to implement the most current, cutting-edge environmentally-friendly products and procedures to provide a solid product. The company works primarily with contractors who remodel homes in Northern California.

Rivendell is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), meaning they pride themselves on having transparency with wood harvesting. The FSC web site declares, "In many forests around the world, logging still contributes to habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, and violence against people who work in the forest and the wildlife that dwells there. Many consumers of wood and paper, and many forest products companies believe that the link between logging and these negative impacts can be broken, and that forests can be managed and protected at the same time. Forest Stewardship Council certification is one way to improve the practice of forestry."

Time that Alahan spent on paying extreme attention to crafting detailed wooden toys was parlayed into his current business. Part of his desire to make such a good product stems back to his personal relationship with his sons, the toy testers, who now work with him in the business.

"I built the wooden toys first for my sons," Alahan said, who eventually sold them for profit. "They played with them and now they are my partners in the business. They were my toy testers and now they are the shop foreman, and the foreman of the field work. They have been the real driving force behind getting the shop certified. They are thinking about how they are going to grow the business over the next several years, and see "green" being an important part of that process."

At about the same time that Columbia Forest Products developed PureBond® formaldehyde-free hardwood plywood, Rivendell leaders were trying to take the company in an environmentally-friendly direction.

"We decided to become certified to be up with the trend in construction and cabinetry," Alahan said. "I believe it is going to be the norm and not the exception before long. PureBond® works just as well or better than the old adhesive, good for the customer and good for us in the shop where there is saw dust in the air. We can sense the difference without breathing in the formaldehyde. There is no comparison. We want to produce a product that is high quality, at a reasonable price. Being green is an integral part to offering high quality and being socially responsible."

Using PureBond® and being FSC certified is just the beginning of what is going to be a strong fixture in a company concerned about its green conscience.