From Tree to Board: The Story Behind Your Craft Blanks
Why We Choose Australian MDF
(and why it matters for your crafts)
Because your creativity deserves materials made with care — the kind that makes your colours pop and your conscience feel good.
When you pick up a Hueray board, it might just look like a smooth, sturdy canvas waiting for your imagination. But behind every art board, insect, and blank word is a story that starts in the forests of northeast Victoria and ends with a material we’re proud to put our name on.
We use MDF (medium density fibreboard) as the base for our creations — but not just any MDF. Ours is made right here in Australia by Alpine MDF, a company with genuine, long-term roots in sustainable forestry.
What Even Is MDF?
MDF (medium density fibreboard) is basically the dreamboat of crafting surfaces.It’s made by breaking down wood fibres, blending them with resin, and pressing them into smooth, dense sheets. No knots, no weird grain patterns — just buttery-smooth surfaces perfect for paint pens, pencils, glitter bombs, and colour explosions.
It's a vibe
Why MDF Makes the perfect craft surface
Planet friendly
Eco-Friendly Manufacturing
Alpine MDF doesn’t just stop at sourcing. They’re leading the way in green manufacturing practices:
- Nearly all production heat is generated from wood residues, a renewable biofuel considered greenhouse-gas neutral under the Kyoto Protocol.
- Waste becomes a resource – Offcuts and residues aren’t wasted, they’re part of the cycle.
- Ongoing focus on reducing carbon footprint across the plant.
It’s what they call a “virtuous cycle” of carbon capture: forests lock in carbon as they grow, and Alpine MDF makes sure the production process keeps it that way.
Certified & Credible
Here’s where the tick-boxes matter: Alpine MDF holds some of the most respected environmental and safety certifications in the industry:
These aren’t just logos on paper — they’re proof that Alpine MDF’s sustainability story is independently audited and verified.
Super Low Emissions (Not Invisible)
EO Grade
Alpine MDF is EO grade, which means it’s engineered to have very low formaldehyde emissions — less than 0.5 mg/L. That’s the strictest rating available in Australia and is comparable to the levels naturally found in solid wood.
This performance is achieved using modified urea-formaldehyde resin. In other words, formaldehyde isn’t fully absent (because it naturally occurs in wood fibres and resins), but Alpine MDF’s process keeps emissions to the lowest possible level.
Why this matters
- Formaldehyde is naturally occurring, not something Alpine MDF is adding in
- EO grade ensures levels are kept so low they’re considered safe for families, schools, and community use.
- No strong chemical smell — just smooth, clean boards ready for your creativity.
Important
MDF manufactured outside of Australia is not necessarily held to the same manufacturing standards, and may contain unknown additives, binders, or toxins. It may be sourced from unsustainable forestry, or be produced using unfair labour practices, with little to no transparency on how or where it was made.
It’s More Than Just a Board
We like to think of our MDF as the quiet hero of creativity. You might not notice it once the colours, designs and highlights take over, but it’s what makes your dopamine décor dreams possible.
When you choose Hueray, you’re choosing:
