If you are focussed on using “green” products made from natural resources, then wood laminates beat luxury vinyl tiles. For sound insulation, fall-protection and temperature control, carpet is the winner.
There's nothing like vinyl
Over its whole life cycle, vinyl floor coverings perform well across a range of environmental impacts. As a material, vinyl is ideally suited to being recycled. It is 100% recyclable and can be recycled over 10 times without losing any of its performance properties.
When it comes to environmental impact, laminate has a slight edge over vinyl thanks to its recycled wood core. However, the melamine wear layer on the surface is still made of plastic, which may off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful to people and pets.
Due to a lack of viable PVC recycling options, most vinyl floors will end up in a landfill where there is a high probability of incineration. While it can be recycled, this process is difficult due to the high levels of hazardous additives present in the material. Today, less than 1% of PVC is recycled.
Con: LVP May Dent
Luxury vinyl flooring can dent and even scratch or scuff, especially from heavy appliances, furniture, or other weighty objects. Just because it's resistant to something doesn't mean it's impervious to it. However, do know that LVP resists scratches better than real hardwood.
Some disadvantages of vinyl flooring include: Cannot be repaired. Can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Shorter lifespan than wood floors.
While costs are similar, the value of premium vinyl far exceeds that of laminate based on quality and value. Unlike laminate, premium vinyl is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, and is easy to install and maintain. Laminate is restricted to light traffic and low moisture applications.
Healthier flooring options include solid wood, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, tile and stone. A key feature of all of these is that they are easily cleaned of dust and dirt.
Cork – Durable, hypoallergenic, unique, and eco-friendly, cork is a happy medium between hardwood and vinyl flooring. Similar to vinyl, cork is relatively inexpensive and comes in small sheets or planks. Cork, like hardwood, is a beautiful natural material that can be sustainably harvested.
Vinyl stands up the best against excess moisture and spills, and it can be less expensive than laminate. However, laminate gives a more realistic wood look to enhance the design aesthetic in your home.
In reality, the off-gassing should be the strongest during the first two weeks and continue to off-gas for up to months after it is placed into your home.
So is vinyl flooring toxic? Toxicity levels of vinyl flooring were once a major concern dating back to the study discussed above which was conducted in 2015. It's now 2022 and most floor manufacturers have eliminated the use of this chemical and now provide 'phthalates-free' vinyl flooring.
Due to the materials used in the production process of vinyl, it will sometimes emit various levels of VOCs into the air for a short amount of time after installation. These toxic chemicals can be harmful to air quality of the immediate environment it's installed in and may cause respiratory problems over time.
Laminate flooring has a variety of environmentally friendly benefits, but one of them beats them all: Laminate flooring creates the look of a natural resource – such as wood or stone – as opposed to actually using it, so fewer raw materials are used in the manufacturing process.
So in terms of natural resources, Vinyl is easily sustainable. Secondly, Vinyl is 100 percent recyclable, so natural resources can be further conserved by recycling Vinyl scrap. In fact, most of today's Vinyl scrap is being recycled, but not all of it.
Vinyl is inexpensive, long-lasting flooring. But it often contains phthalates, chemicals that have raised safety concerns for young children.
Solid hardwood flooring is considered the safest and least toxic option as it's completely natural and free from any toxins. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber, which makes it a healthy flooring option.
Do you love the look of your laminate wood flooring but worry it's a health hazard? You're not alone. Countless studies show a link between the formaldehyde in laminate flooring and other household products and increased rates of respiratory issues, allergies, asthma, and even certain cancers.
As all of its materials are natural, linoleum flooring does not emit any harmful chemical compounds during installation or renovation. Hence, having the lowest environmental impact.
Cellogreen is our star eco-print laminate. It's made predominantly from cellulose and as well as being fully recyclable, it's also biodegradable and compostable. It provides the same aesthetic as OPP lamination but can be recycled in a normal re-pulping system.
If you want to go for wood or laminate flooring, then the most sustainable flooring choices in the market would include cork and bamboo, which are long-lasting natural options from renewable sources. However, they can be very pricey. Tapi offer many sustainable other laminate and wood options.
Luxury vinyl has become our most popular choice for home flooring, and for many good reasons.As mentioned previously its waterproof, low maintenance, resilient, and is one of the most budget-friendly options, too!
The initial costs associated with laminate flooring are typically lower than that of vinyl, with labor and materials starting at around $1 per square foot for laminate (versus $2 per square foot for vinyl).