Specialty Flooring

Specialty Flooring is any flooring that is sustainable, eco-friendly, contains recycled content, is recyclable, leaves a small carbon footprint or has low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compound). There are different degrees of green when referring to different types of flooring.

Cork

• Better than a renewable resource because it is a harvested resource (only the bark is harvested from the tree)
• A recycled product because cork floors are made from the waste cork that makes wine stoppers.
• A law in the 1930’s called “The 9 Year Law” was passed to keep cork from being harvested any sooner than every 9 years. The tree has to reach 60 cm in circumference before it can be harvested. The first harvest from a cork tree can only occur at age 25.
• The tree is not destroyed or damaged when harvesting cork.
• To complete the environmentally sound process, water based finishes and adhesives should be used.

Learn More about Cork Flooring

Bamboo

• Bamboo is a rapidly renewing resource that matures in three years
• It regenerates without need for replanting
• It also requires minimal fertilization or pesticides
• There currently is no FSC certified bamboo so it is important to see what you can confirm about the bamboo you are interested in before purchasing.

Learn More about Bamboo Flooring