Gerflor’s vinyl products are 100 percent recyclable at the end of life cycle and include patented floor solutions to reduce the use of aggressive chemicals during maintenance.

Welcome to the 6th annual Sustainable Flooring section. Sister publication Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C) has been running this special editorial section for the past six years, and now Sustainable Facility’s readership will benefit from it as well. When asked, “Which environmentally considerate or ‘green’ products do you specify, recommend or purchase,” 68 percent of ED+C readers responded “Carpeting,” and 67 percent chose “Flooring other than carpet.” These product categories ranked higher than any other building product (even lighting, roofing, paint and insulation), according to the ED+C Green Building Awareness Study, November 2007.

Does that mean it is easy to choose green flooring? There are plenty of promising products. But the question remains, which is the greenest? Often, it depends on the application and installation. For example, a residential family room requires a different set of specifications than a hospital or school seeking LEED certification.

When it’s time to specify a “green” floor, here are some environmental options:

• Bamboo

• Bio-based Product

• Carpet (broadloom or tile)

• Ceramic Tile

• Certified Wood

• Concrete

• Cork

• Engineered Wood

• Laminate

• Linoleum

• Reclaimed Wood

• Rubber

• Terrazzo (recycled glass)

• Vinyl

• Raised /Access Flooring

• Other (which might include glass, quartz, stabilized earth)

So how do you make the greenest decision? Consider: Does the product have a “label,” such as the Green Label Plus the Carpet and Rug Insitute; or is it certified (for recycled content or low emissions) by a reputable third-party certification system like GREENGUARD, Scientific Certification Systems, Green Seal, Forest Stewardship Council or Sustainable Forestry Initiative? What is the product’s lifecycle? How is it maintained; how is it installed (think about adhesives, sealants, underlayment, padding/cushion, etc.)?

In this issue, we explore the latest news, new products and green projects. Be sure to explore the myriad choices and environmental attributes when specifying your next sustainable floor.



—The Editors