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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While high concentrations of formaldehyde can be hazardous, the minimal amounts released by (high quality) bamboo floors are not present at levels that pose a toxic risk.
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.
There are Eco-Friendly Laminate and Vinyl Plank Options Out There. In recent years, some manufacturers have started producing no- or low-VOC vinyl as an environmentally friendly flooring alternative to traditional vinyl. It is recyclable and made from PVC-free recycled content. The same is true for laminate flooring.
If you're looking for an energy-efficient floor covering, carpet is the way to go. It traps heat in the room, making it more comfortable while also saving on your energy bill. If you're not a fan of carpets, hardwood floors are the next best thing. They reflect heat back into the room, keeping it warmer for longer.
LEED: Bamboo has been recognized by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program as being an ecologically-friendly building material.
Generally speaking, floors with a nontoxic seal or finish have the lowest VOC levels. These include solid hardwood floors, polished concrete, and tile. Keep in mind that every flooring option comes with a lot of variety. Take the time to consider the different materials and finishes available to you.
Tile and Linoleum
You can add life to any room with a colorful floor made of recycled glass tiles, which are ideal for modern bathrooms and kitchens. Natural linoleum floors are also hypo-allergenic and biodegradable. It's easy and cost-competitive to choose eco-friendly flooring when your old floors need upgrading.
Bamboo grass easily absorbs water. This leads to the flooring being vulnerable to humidity and water damage, shrinking, warping, swelling, and buckling. Inexpensive or darkened bamboo flooring is susceptible to dents and scratches. In time, bamboo can fade, become marred, and discolour.
It requires manufacturing before it is considered solid. Since many countries manufacture and export bamboo, there are no standards regarding quality. There is the risk of exposure to formaldehyde or other VOCs. Similar to wood, bamboo surfaces are soft making it susceptible to scratches.
Vinyl: Vinyl is softer than many hard-surface floors and easy to clean. If you use a cane or any medical aid, it'll be easier to keep the floor surface tidy. Laminate: Laminate is softer and has more “give” compared to wood and tile. It is also slightly warmer, which can help you avoid aggravating the pain.
Finally, given the tone of light floors, they tend to appear cleaner longer. Light-colored flooring often shows less dust, debris than do dark floors and pesky, inevitable scratches and damage will be less obvious.
LOGOCLIC® laminate floors: all PEFC-certified!
Choose environmentally friendly, PEFC-certified laminate floors from LOGOCLIC®. PEFC is a transparent and independent system for ensuring sustainable forest management and thus a worldwide “forest MOT”. Since 01.01.
Vinyl has come a long way when it comes to style choices in recent years, though. You can find vinyl flooring that realistically mimics not only the look but also the feel of stone, tile, and even wood floors. Vinyl also has a longer lifespan and better overall durability than laminate.
Items printed on thermal paper, like concert and movie tickets are not suitable to be laminated because they will turn black when laminated. We also generally recommend that collectible or valuable items not be laminated, because laminating is permanent and once something is laminated, it cannot be undone.