SustainabilityIn recent years attention has turned to the glues in plywood, and what fumes the product is off-gassing into our homes when used inside. To reduce harmful VOCs, look for plywood with glues that have no added urea-formaldehyde. The plywood used in the construction of the cabinets in this picture goes one step further. The doors, shelves and cabinet boxes are all made from bamboo plywood. Bamboo is a grass that grows quickly, and it is a sustainable substitute for wood from trees. Sustainability is all in the details, though, so do your homework to make sure the life-cycle costs of the product are indeed less than the product you are replacing.There are also plywoods made from sorghum and wheat. The look of these alternative plywood products is part of their appeal.