In today’s world, environmental responsibility has become a crucial issue that affects us all. With increasing awareness of the impact that human activities have on the planet, people are taking steps to promote sustainability.
In that regard, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are a type of standardized report that provide information on the environmental impacts of a product. EPDs are becoming increasingly popular as consumers and businesses look for ways to reduce their environmental impact.
One industry that has recently been evaluated using EPDs is the flooring industry. A study was conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), a not-for-profit trade association.
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What did the study say?
The study compared the environmental impacts of six different types of flooring, including solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, and carpet. The results showed that wood flooring has a much lower impact on the environment compared to the rest.
In fact, the study found that the production and use of wood flooring can result in negative carbon emissions. This means that the use of wood flooring can actually help reduce carbon in the atmosphere.
One of the reasons for the low environmental impact of wood flooring is that it is a renewable resource. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, and this carbon remains stored in the wood even after it is harvested and processed into flooring.
Additionally, the NWFA study found that the production of wood flooring has a low impact on other environmental factors, such as water use and energy consumption.
Other factors to take into account
While the production of wood flooring has a low environmental impact, it is important to note that the installation and maintenance of the flooring can also impact the environment. This is a crucial aspect if you are trying to be as sustainable as possible.
For example, the use of adhesives and finishes during installation can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which can have negative impacts on indoor air quality. Choosing low-VOC adhesives and finishes,like natural oil based finishes, can help reduce these impacts.
Furthermore, the proper maintenance of your flooring will also reduce your environmental impact. Since hardwood is a long-lasting material, the better you take care of it, the longer it will take until you have to replace it, and maybe you won’t need to replace it at all!
All in all, hardwood flooring has the lowest carbon footprint of any flooring material, making it a sustainable and ideal choice for consumers and businesses. This is in addition to the rest of its advantages!