Resilient floor coverings include vinyl, linoleum and rubber flooring. This category of flooring covering maintains a strong presence in the fight for environmental responsibility with benefits including being made with natural, renewable materials that contribute to health indoor air quality and extended life cycles that reduce waste production.
Many resilient flooring products are made of vinyl. The principal raw material for vinyl is derived from common salt, an abundant and inexpensive natural resource. Vinyl resin takes less energy to produce than most competing raw materials, resulting in a lower level of greenhouse emissions over its life. Vinyl is durable under heavy traffic and extreme use. Vinyl reduces noise and provides underfoot comfort. Because it is moisture and stain resistant, spills can be easily removed. When compared with alternative materials, vinyl offers and attractive installed cost and economical maintenance over the life of the floor.
Linoleum flooring is made of renewable resources like linseed oil, rosin, cork powder, wood flour, and pigments. It is totally recyclable, so forty years down the road when you might think about changing your floors, you can feel good knowing that your floor had a minimal impact on the environment. Linoleum is extremely durable and does not easily scratch or scuff, making it great for high traffic areas that see a lot of wear and tear. In fact, over time linoleum hardens which makes it even more durable to keep it looking beautiful no matter how much traffic it receives. It is widely used commercially because of the durability and ease of maintenance. Its natural bacterial resistant qualities make it great for use in rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, and the children’s rooms.
Floors made with natural rubber are made from the sap of the rubber tree. Rubber tiles are recyclable at the end of life and can be used for other rubber products. Many rubber flooring products are already made from reclaimed materials such as old tires.
Laminate and LVP flooring is made from wood chips and fibers of many types of trees. Everything but the bark and leaves is used so close to 90% of the tree is utilized, making for less waste. It requires minimal maintenance and most products used for cleaning are 100% biodegradable and VOC-free. Just about all laminate floors now utilize some type of mechanical locking system which eliminates the need for adhesives. This means there are fewer materials and resources needed to install it. Because of these locking systems, laminate can be easily repaired without lifting or replacing the whole floor. Laminate flooring is a very durable and long-lasting product. Some Laminates are even 100% waterproof now which means that they are great choices for bathrooms, basements and kitchens.
Ceramic tile is an eco friendly flooring choice for many homeowners. Tile has a usable life of more than 40 years. Alternative flooring choices will be replaced four, six or eight times in that same time period. Since tile can last the life of a home, it greatly reduces the demand for virgin materials as well as the amount of waste we send to landfills. The raw materials used in the manufacturing of both ceramic and porcelain tile are available in abundant supply throughout North America. This reduces energy consumption related to both the manufacturing and transportation of tile. Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are low maintenance, long lasting and do not off-gas
