Homeowner demand for environmentally responsible building products continues to increase, with no end in sight. Now, a new line of wood products promises to deliver the beauty, workability, and longevity of domestic and exotic hardwoods, without the costly "environmental price tag."

Alowood by EverTech replaces expensive, high-demand, or increasingly scarce hardwoods such as ebony, rosewood, and walnut, using a relatively simple process. Starting with plantation-grown, sustainable lumber, the wood is organically hardened and colored throughout with EverTech's patented Everdex technology. A starch-based additive is forced into the wood using pressure and vacuum infusion; the wood is then thermally cured, permanently locking in the additive. The result is a natural wood that is denser, stronger, and harder than the original wood, and can be produced in virtually any color.

Alowood carries a veritable laundry list of features and benefits, including:

Good looks and competitive prices; Alowood looks and acts like domestic and exotic hardwoods, and is more readily available

Consistent color and hardness, plus easy machineability, make Alowood very easy to work with

Like natural exotics, Alowood can be sanded and finished to achieve the desired appearance and character

Lower rates of unusable wood deliver better yields than traditional hardwoods, lowering total product costs

Harvested from a fast-growing, renewable resource, one of very few renewable building materials

Produced by a company that is committed to supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests

In addition, Alowood is the only hard wood to be GREENGUARD certified for its low impact on indoor air quality. Alowood is also available as a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified product because of its contributions to sustainability.

With development under way to produce an exterior-grade product, Alowood's interior uses are many, including flooring, cabinetry, hobby woodworking, and veneers. "This is a revolutionary product that is sure to change the way the world looks at wood," said John Gibb, president of Chemco, whose firm formed the joint-venture EverTech brand with MeadWestvaco Corporation.

Alowood already enjoys a worldwide presence: the product was field-tested in Japan for two years, in response to the need for a formaldehyde-free wood-hardening process. Today, Alowood's introduction to the U.S. market is a groundbreaking event for the ever-increasing numbers of homeowners who demand environmentally responsible options from their builders and remodelers.

About Chemco Inc.

Chemco is a worldwide leader in modification and enhancement technologies for wood products. Headquartered in Ferndale, Wash., Chemco was one of the early pioneers in fire retardant technologies for wood products. The company's proprietary Everdex technology, which transfers to EverTech with creation of this new company, is a process that combines vacuum and pressure injection technology that replaces air and moisture in wood with a natural, corn- and soy protein-based additive. For more information, visit www.chemco.us.

About MeadWestvaco Corporation

MeadWestvaco is a global packaging company that delivers high-value packaging solutions and products to the world's most recognized companies in the food and beverage, media and entertainment, personal care, home and garden, cosmetic and healthcare industries. The company also has market-leading positions in its Consumer & Office Products, Specialty Chemicals, and Specialty Papers businesses. MeadWestvaco, with operations in more than 29 countries, has been selected for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and manages all of its forestlands in accordance with internationally recognized forest certification standards. The company's headquarters are located in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, visit www.meadwestvaco.com.

About EverTech

Launched in September 2006, EverTech LLC is a joint venture between Chemco and MeadWestvaco Specialty Chemicals. Located in Ferndale, Wash., EverTech is the manufacturer and marketer of Alowood. To learn more about EverTech and Alowood, visit www.alowood.com.