Furniture is traditionally coated by one or more liquid products applied by an air pistol. The solvents used to ensure the fluidity of these products evaporate after application, and the resins contained within solidify to form a protective coating on the wood surface. In order to accelerate the polymerization of these products, the solvents are highly volatile and evaporate into the atmosphere. In 2004, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment published directives (available at www.ccme.ca) for the reduction of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions created during the finishing procedures of wood furniture. This document, which has been delivered to the provincial ministers who will decide whether to adopt its recommendations, suggests that the furniture industry could reduce VOC emissions and proposes limits. Modifications to environmental standards will force the furniture industry to reduce the volume of VOC emissions released into the atmosphere. It is essential that solvent-free wood-finishing systems replace traditional systems in order to respect the future VOC emission limits. The technology used for the application, the hardening method, and the product selected for the finish, include three key elements in the emissions reduction effort. The flat finishing technique used for furniture components before assembly allows for an efficient application of both water-based products and hardening products using UV rays. The solid content ratio and the recovery rate of the finishing products are quite high. The use of a roller to apply these products (as is commonly done in the wood flooring industry) is one solution that will respect the new VOC emission limits. The technique used for finishing three-dimensional products (multiprofile pieces, assembled furniture, etc.) requires application using a paint spraying device. By using liquid finishing products, the level of waste experienced during application is high, and the recuperation of the wasted product is difficult. Powder coatings have already been successfully used in the metal industry, but one question remains: is it possible to use powders to finish wood items and maintain the performance of traditional products? In order to answer this question and evaluate the use of powder coatings in the wood furniture industry, we need to understand the basic principles of powdered surface coatings.