Laminate flooring is widely accepted by homeowners as a cost-effective solution. Now with green technology gaining popularity, laminate has been considered as a green solution as well.
Laminate flooring comprises a material hybrid integrated together using an innovative lamination technique. Laminate flooring looks as if it has been made from a natural resource like marble, wood or stone. In reality, none of these are used hence it can be ascertained that few raw materials are required for manufacturing.
The President of the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA), Bill Dearing stated that laminate flooring manufacture does not require cutting down of old-growth hardwoods found in rainforests, yet laminate offers the same look without exhausting natural resources.
Laminate flooring can be formed into textures replicating worm holes, saw marks and other decorative details without affecting nature, providing it with a truly realistic look. For instance, the fiberboard core of the laminate is made of 74% per-consumer recycled waste that includes wood chips from log processing and sawdust from mills.
Autonomous, third-party performance tests are conducted by NALFA on laminate flooring and products, and products that are awarded with the NALFA Certification Seal are considered sustainable.
The NALFA Certification Seal validates that a laminate floor has the following qualities:
- It comprises recycled natural resources forming a high-density, heavy-duty core board
- The floor can be recycled at the end of its lifetime
- It does not contain air-damaging chemicals
- Since the installation of the laminate is done without adhesives, and laminate floors can be cleaned without using harsh chemicals, VOC emission is prevented.
- The laminate is compliant with regulations related to formaldehyde emissions for laminate flooring core board laid by the California Air Resources Board.
- It complies with formaldehyde emissions regulations for laminate flooring core board set forth by the California Air Resources Board.
- It contains recycled content, which may help in meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for homes and businesses.
Source: http://www.nalfa.com