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What is a "green" or "Eco-friendly" or "environmentally friendly" loudspeaker? These terms are used interchangeably to refer to (1) loudspeakers made in energy efficient or renewable energy facilities, or to (2) loudspeakers with cabinets made from recycled materials, or to (3) loudspeakers that consume lower energy, and so on. The concern has been focused primarily on the impact of loudspeaker manufacturing on resource depletion. We take a more holistic approach that protects both the environment and people's health. Ultimately all our concerns about the global environment are rooted in the sustainability of life on the planet and the impact of environmental degradation on human life itself. To focus on the global environment from only a depletion of resources point of view can lead to disastrous results as the use of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), the primary material used to make loudspeakers, shows.

Ironically, when MDF became the most commonly used material to make loudspeakers in the 1970s, it was touted as good for the environment because it was made from recycled materials, including lumber byproducts and excess and waste materials from lumber mills. The use of MDF addressed the problem of resource depletion, but because there was less focus on the toxicity inherent in the process by which MDF was made, the impact of formaldehyde (a key component of MDF) on human health and the environment was mainly overlooked.

Formaldehyde, which is used to manufacture most plywoods and MDFs, is an allergen and a carcinogen. It is a volatile organic compound (VOC) which vaporizes under normal conditions into the environment. It poses a severe risk to people with with pulmonary problems. Moreover, formaldehyde residues are major components of smog and thus have a broad impact on health and the environment. In finished lumber products, such as furniture and loudspeakers, formaldehyde, paints, and glues which are VOCs can release vapors (off-gas) into indoor air. This is a significant and growing concern for consumers who want healthy products in their homes and in their working and leisure environments and who also want to protect the global environment.

Here at Role, we have a holistic idea of what constitutes a "green" loudspeaker. It takes into account not only the amount of materials and other resources used to manufacture a loudspeaker, and hence the impact of the process on the depletion of scarce resources, but we are also concerned about the toxicity of those materials and their immediate impact on the health of our customers, our workers, and on the global environment. Our holistic approach takes into account the entire process or loudspeaker manufacturing -- from design and manufacturing to shipping and transportation, to the impact on the consumer and the environment in which the consumer will use our products.

For us a "green" loudspeaker is one that is produced with the least amount of non-toxic lumber made from recycled materials or harvested from sustainable forests, glued with non-toxic glues, painted with certified "green" water based paints, loaded with the most efficient set of components, and packaged in packaging made from recycled and non-toxic materials.

Although formaldehyde-free boards and paints are becoming more available, they are very expensive, more difficult to work with, and the variety is quite limited. There are no absolute solutions. Even certified green paints and lumber may contain minute quantities of formaldehyde. Indeed, minute quantities of formaldehyde can naturally occur in wood..

We have begun to manufacture the "greenest" and most environmentally- and health friendly, formaldehyde free non-toxic loudspeakers, as options for our full line of eight critically acclaimed small loudspeakers, which are already substantially "green".

Our “greenest” loudspeakers are manufactured from formaldehyde free plywoods that are made with PureBond® ‘formaldehyde-free technology, and from MDFs that use no urea or formaldehyde in the manufacturing process. We assemble them with non toxic glues, and paint them with water based paints that are certified by the Greenguard Environmental institute. We manufacture our grills from formaldehyde free MDF, non-toxic glues, and nylon fabrics.

Role Audio has always been green. The driving principle for Role Audio has always been to use the least amount of resources: lumber, drivers, crossover parts, and other materials -- coupled with the latest loudspeaker design technology to deliver big speaker performance from the smallest possible cabinet designs. We have always used non-toxic glues, non-toxic stains, and packaging materials made from recycled and nontoxic materials in our products. Our small speakers require less energy, paints, lumber, and other materials to manufacture. They also require less energy and packaging materials to ship. Our loudspeakers have the smallest carbon footprint of any known high-end loudspeaker manufacturer. This dedication to manufacturing small, low-toxicity loudspeakers has already established us as one of the greenest loudspeaker manufacturers.

All things being equal, even our standard small loudspeakers present significantly less risk of off-gas and a significantly smaller carbon foot print than larger loudspeakers. Moreover, we are incorporating certified "green" paints and materials in the manufacturing processes of our standard small loudspeakers. All of our standard small loudspeakers are currently manufactured with some non toxic materials and most are painted with certified "green" paints. Nevertheless, with the increasing use of loudspeakers in near-field situations such as desk tops and other intimate settings, and the broader problem of global environmental pollution, toxic off-gassing in general and formaldehyde off-gassing in particular have become very important health and environmental issues. It is these issues that we seek to address by introducing formaldehyde free loudspeakers.

While the revolution in the miniaturization of high end electronics is proceeding at a rapid pace, progress in the miniaturization of high end loudspeakers which will reduce the impact of loudspeaker manufacturing on the global environment and health lags behind. Role Audio has been at the forefront of the trend to deliver  the greatest performance from the smallest possible loudspeaker that have the smallest carbon footprint. We believe our small potent loudspeakers when used by themselves or in combination with small subwoofers are compelling alternatives to many large loudspeakers. The transition to producing exclusively green loudspeakers is a formidable challenge, but once again we are at the forefront of a very important and vital change. Our goal is to offer the best small loudspeakers that have less than half of the environmental impact of conventional loudspeakers.

Kindly let us know if you have any questions.