Low VOC, Sustainable Sourcing, and FloorScore: Decoding Flooring Certifications
"Your home’s air quality is just as important as the materials you choose to furnish it with." This increasing awareness has brought attention to flooring certifications such as Low VOC and responsibly sourced wood, among others like FloorScore and Greenguard Gold. What exactly do these certifications signify, and why should they be significant to you?
When we look at it closely, flooring goes beyond looks—it’s about creating a secure and healthy space while also being mindful of the environment’s well-being. Certifications offer a way to see if a product matches up with what matters to you—your values, health concerns, and goals for sustainability.
What Are VOCs and Why Should You Care?
VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals that can evaporate into the air at room temperature. In simpler terms, they’re airborne particles that can affect indoor air quality. Flooring products, especially those made from adhesives, finishes, or synthetic materials, can emit VOCs.
The concern? High levels of VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and prolonged exposure may have more serious health effects. Children and individuals with respiratory sensitivities are especially vulnerable.
Certifications that focus on levels of VOCs, such as those acknowledged by FloorScore and Greenguard, guarantee that the flooring you select emits minimal substances into the air. This leads to fresher indoor air for your loved ones or colleagues—while keeping your style intact.
What Does Responsibly Sourced Certification Mean?
Responsibly sourced certifications indicate that flooring products have been manufactured using wood or bamboo from sustainably managed forests. Such certifications protect forests, guarantee fair labour practices, safeguard biodiversity, and support eco-friendly manufacturing methods to help reduce deforestation.
It’s important to note that certifications for responsibly sourced wood or bamboo can sometimes be product-specific. Not every item within a brand’s range will necessarily meet these standards, so it’s always worth double-checking.
Understanding FloorScore and Greenguard
While sustainable sourcing certifications focuses on responsible forestry, FloorScore and Greenguard focus specifically on maintaining indoor air quality standards. Both are globally recognised, with distinctive advantages for each certification program.
- FloorScore pertains to flooring and associated materials. It guarantees that items adhere to VOC emission standards, serving as a valuable reference point for selecting low-emission flooring options.
- Greenguard goes beyond flooring, evaluating VOC emissions across a broader range of building materials. The Greenguard Gold certification is particularly stringent and is recommended for settings such as schools or healthcare facilities where there are vulnerable occupants like children or the elderly.
Tips for Recognising Certified Products
The challenging aspect lies in the fact that certifications like these are not always clearly displayed on websites for consumers to see upfront. Companies may choose not to highlight this detail to avoid overwhelming customers with jargon, but this doesn’t imply that the products lack certifications.
If you’re considering a specific flooring product, don’t hesitate to ask. You can request technical data sheets or certification details from the retailer or manufacturer. Reputable companies typically provide this information to ensure you feel confident and secure in your decision-making process. At the time of writing this article (1st December 2024) we currently do not have these labels on the product pages but the products hold these certifications, we are currently working on a user-friendly way to incorporate this onto the product pages to provide as much information about the product without creating a jargon-filled, compliacated experience.
The Significance of These Certifications
Choosing flooring goes beyond aesthetics; it impacts your well-being and the environment too. Certifications such as Low VOC, FloorScore, and Greenguard Gold provide information to help consumers make informed choices about sustainability and indoor air quality.
When you grasp the significance of these certifications, you’re not simply selecting a surface covering. You’re opting for cleaner air quality and eco-friendly methods that provide a sense of security and assurance. You can contact us below for more information regarding our products.
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