How Environmentally Friendly Are “Green” Building Boards?

Current Standards Explained

Let’s start with a clarification: mg/L is essentially the same as ppm—both represent parts per million.

In reality, most commonly used boards or lumber often exceed these standards by a wide margin. So if homeowners aren’t paying attention during renovations, they might end up using materials that aren’t truly eco-friendly. (Let’s be honest—most carpenters aren’t concerned about this.) The result? That strong, pungent “renovation smell.”

However, if your interior designer is mindful, they might choose F2-grade boards (Taiwan’s standard, equivalent to the EU’s E1). According to regulations, all materials were supposed to meet this standard by 2008. (Of course, enforcement is another story.)

For health-conscious homeowners, F1-grade (E0) boards are a better choice. And if you’re willing to spend more, you can even opt for Super E0-grade boards. That should solve the problem, right?

Wrong.

First, let’s talk about formaldehyde’s impact on human health. According to popular claims online:

. 0.08 ppm – almost no odor or sensation

• 0.5 ppm – eye irritation
• 0.8 ppm – noticeable odor
• 5.0 ppm – throat discomfort
• 15.0 ppm – coughing begins
• 20.0 ppm – respiratory system irritation

But I must tell you—this scale is completely inaccurate. The real issue deserves deeper discussion (see the article “Formaldehyde’s Effects on the Human Body”), but here’s the key point:
Once formaldehyde levels exceed 0.01 ppm, you’ll definitely notice it—at the very least, a faint pungent smell. And if it goes beyond 0.1 ppm, health damage begins. If exposure continues for years, even decades, the harm can be significant. We just didn’t realize it before.

That’s why Taiwan’s newly established Indoor Air Quality Act sets the maximum allowable formaldehyde concentration at below 0.1 ppm. Honestly, even this is a low threshold. But the government can’t set standards too high—industries need room to survive. So ultimately, it’s up to us to protect ourselves.

Now let’s look at the highest standard—Super E0, which is only available in Europe and Japan. It requires emissions below 0.3 ppm. While that seems low from a materials standpoint, it’s still quite high when considering indoor air quality and human health. And remember, your home doesn’t contain just one board—when you add everything up, the total emissions can be staggering. (For more on this, see “A Deep Dive into Eco Board Standards.”)

Third, boards aren’t the only problem. Veneers, adhesives, and paints also contain formaldehyde. Even if you buy premium boards, other sources of pollution remain—and people often overlook this.
Finally, formaldehyde is just one of many harmful substances. Renovation materials can also release acetaldehyde, toluene, xylene, acetic acid, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, alkanes, ammonia compounds, and more. Current standards barely scratch the surface. If you’re only watching formaldehyde levels, you’re playing games with your health.
So—are eco-friendly boards truly eco-friendly?
That’s a big question. As things stand, “eco-friendly” boards may actually be misleading. They reduce one type of toxin but don’t solve the broader issue. Worse, they give consumers a false sense of security, causing them to overlook the real risks. Dangerous? Absolutely.
Starting with boards is just the beginning. You need to replace all materials—glue, paint, everything—with truly eco-safe alternatives. That gets you closer to safety, but it’ll cost you. And even then, post-treatment is essential. Because no matter how clean your boards are, once glue and paint are applied, toxins return.
That’s why the final step matters most: photocatalyst technology. Only products like ARC-FLASH, which continuously break down organic compounds over time, offer a chance at truly solving this problem.