When choosing eco-friendly flooring, there are many factors to consider, such as the material’s source, production processes, transportation distance, and whether the flooring can be recycled.
Certification of a material can act as a guide, for example, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for wood products can help you identify sustainable flooring options.
Let’s take a look at some of the most eco-friendly flooring solutions currently available.
Wool carpets and carpet tiles
Carpets made from natural materials like wool are biodegradable and an excellent ecological choice.
Wool is a sustainable natural resource and offers a high level of comfort and durability. Wool carpets and carpet tiles are comfortable to walk on and will last a long time.
We partner with Burmatex, a leading UK designer and manufacturer of carpet tiles and sheets that are generally used in commercial settings.
Burmatex is an innovative company that focuses on creating eco-friendly products, and they’re constantly expanding their carpet ranges to suit a wide variety of spaces. Products include multilevel loop, textured loop pile, cut pile and carpets in sheet and tiles, as well as performance barrier systems and entrance matting products.
Rubber flooring solutions
Rubber can be recycled, making it an eco-friendly option. It’s also durable, slip-resistant, provides good insulation and is comfortable underfoot.
There are a wide range of rubber flooring solutions that have been constructed from natural materials and these have eco certification. Some rubber flooring is even made from recycled tyres.
Rubber flooring is ideal for a range of settings, including leisure centres, gyms, hospitals, surgeries, and veterinary practices.
We’re happy to partner with Polyflor, a leading manufacturer of rubber flooring, that strives to reduce carbon emissions across all of its operations – with a focus on responsible sourcing and recycling. Polyflor’s manufacturing processes and systems are ISO 9001 accredited and also conform to ISO 14001 – they’re fully committed to reducing the environmental impact of flooring production.
Polyflor products are perfect for healthcare, education, commercial, leisure, pharmaceutical, electronic and transport settings.
Sustainable wood flooring
Wood from sustainable sources comes from forests that have been certified as following international standards of responsible forestry management. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is the best-known accredited sustainability certification scheme.
We partner with Kährs, a highly reputable and innovative brand. All of Kährs wood comes from sustainably managed forests, and the products are classified as low-chemical and low-emission.
With a choice of authentic oak, beech, maple and walnut in a variety of shades, Kährs flooring can be found in homes, offices, shops, hotels, concert halls, theatres and sports arenas in more than 70 countries.
Wood flooring is attractive to look at and hardwearing – and ideal for commercial settings where first impressions count.
Practical linoleum flooring
Linoleum is made from natural materials that include linseed oil, cork dust, and wood flour. It’s biodegradable and has antibacterial properties.
It’s popular because it offers eco-friendly construction, affordability and longevity. The fact that it’s such a hardwearing product makes it even more environmentally sound.
Linoleum is soft underfoot and comes in an extensive array of patterns and designs. It’s perfect for commercial premises that have a heavy footfall and require water resistance.
Comfortable cork flooring
Cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without harming the tree. This makes it a highly renewable resource.
Cork flooring offers comfort underfoot and has natural insulation properties. The thermal and acoustic insulation it provides makes it an excellent choice for offices and any commercial premises looking to offer a quieter environment.
Find the perfect eco-friendly flooring for your business
Contact 1st Choice Flooring Solutions to chat about your flooring project – we offer free information and advice.
We understand the needs of the commercial sector and are happy to install your new flooring in a way that will cause minimal disruption. All of our work is carried out to the highest standard by experienced, DBS-checked and CSCS-certified flooring fitters.
To discover the perfect flooring solutions for your healthcare organisation, call us on 01902 681 522 or email: info@1stchoiceflooringsolutionsltd.co.uk