Non-toxic flooring is a good option for families, especially those with young kids or the elderly. Photo: Pexels
Is vinyl flooring safe? Whether you are a mum, a parent to a couple of furry friends, or have elderly living in the same household as you, it is pivotal that your home is designed to be a healthy one. If we were to take things back to the basics and peek at every property, we’ll notice that there is one common theme – that flooring lays the foundation of the interior architecture in every home. A major component of any home, your choice of flooring should be suitable for the elderly and the young. However, with the vast sea of flooring types available for you to choose from, how do you ensure that your flooring is healthy for you and your family?
Understanding Non-Toxic Flooring
Keep a lookout for a FloorScore certification to ensure that your flooring is safe for you. Photo: Pexels
From laminate flooring to bamboo flooring, the list of floor types available is endless. Tagged together with choice paralysis, the hunt for the best non-toxic flooring for your abode can be a tedious one. This is especially so since many popular flooring options that are easily accessible tend to contain harmful chemicals.
Dive deep into the search for non-toxic flooring, and you’re sure to come by the term “VOC”. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are sometimes found in flooring, especially vinyl flooring, and they are toxic chemicals that endanger human health.
These include carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde – breathing in VOCs on the regular can result in skin reactions, irritation, headaches, and even damage the liver, kidney, and Central Nervous System. So how do you go about trusting suppliers that their flooring is “low in VOC”?
Certification for non-toxic flooring
Other than trusting the words of your flooring provider, you could keep a lookout for a FloorScore certification. This accreditation is the most recognised indoor air quality certification standard for flooring and indicates compliance with the EPA ecolabel and GSA requirements.
After on-site audits by the SCS auditor, flooring products will be submitted to an SCS-approved independent lab for emissions testing according to the California 01350 standard. If the emissions test is passed, flooring manufacturers are granted the right to use the FloorScore logo. Approval by the FloorScore programme hence indicates two things – the flooring contributes to better indoor air quality, and the supplier cares about delivering quality flooring solutions to their clients.
Understanding Eco-Friendly Flooring
Beyond looking for FloorScore-certified flooring, eco-friendly floors — often referred to as “Green” floors — signify minimal chemical processing. This term doesn’t refer to the colour of the flooring but to the assurance that the materials come from controlled, sustainable sources. While VOCs can be present in various household items like building materials and cleaning products, selecting eco flooring ensures that the design elements are engineered with strategies that prioritise high performance in both human and environmental health. This verification is key to creating a safe, non-toxic home.
Certification for environmentally friendly flooring
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
Aimed to empower consumers to buy and companies to distribute sustainably, the PEFC is for forest-based products – think wood flooring. Getting certified by the PEFC indicates that companies promote sustainable forest management and use certified materials during production.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The ASI (Assurance Services International) will carry out assessments to evaluate compliance to the FSC-STD-20-001 standards through on-site audits before granting FSC accreditation.
Nordic EcoLabel
Being certified under the Nordic EcoLabel is relatively tough as it requires strong proof of environmental efforts. If certified, it serves as an indicator that there are limited chemicals present that will impact the health of individuals and the immediate environment.
Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS)
To meet environmental standards, SGLS officials will check if the products fall within the SGLS scope of certification. This certification is granted credibility through major players such as the GENICES and GEN due to its conformance to the ISO 14024 & ISO 17065 standards.
Floorrich – Your Trusted Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic Flooring Provider
Here at Floorrich, we are one of the top suppliers of eco-friendly and non-toxic wood flooring in Singapore. Driven by the philosophy of carrying top-quality, safe, and visually appealing flooring, we keep your health at the forefront of our business model. Proud owners of all the above-mentioned accreditation and certification, our range of non-toxic flooring such as low VOC vinyl flooring and various types of wood flooring, among others. We ensure that our products address concerns related to vinyl flooring toxic issues and other flooring types, offering peace of mind to homeowners in Singapore. Here is a breakdown of some of them:
Not sure which type of flooring to choose? Contact us to know more!