Using flooring materials made from natural sources is a great way to go green. Today’s changing climate and greater dependency on synthetic substances have made people conscious about the hazardous effects of such products on our planet. You can contribute your own little share by making your house green by opting for nature friendly products ranging from eco friendly lighting to eco friendly flooring. There are various eco friendly flooring options available in the market including linoleum. But is linoleum really green? What makes this durable, anti bacterial product green? Can linoleum flooring be your pick to make your house go green? Let’s read through to know how and why is linoleum flooring considered one of the best choices while opting to go green.
Environment friendly linoleum
When you refer to green flooring, linoleum tops the charts as it is made from natural resources like linseed oil, resins, recycled wood flour or limestone and other such natural renewable resources. Linoleum as a floor covering is flexible and durable. It is made of organic materials and is known to be non allergenic in nature. It is a recyclable material and is available in partially decomposable content.
Linoleum flooring can be easily decomposed
To avoid incineration and as an alternative to this process, linoleum can be placed at landfill refuse sites. Here the natural decomposition takes place making linoleum fully biodegradable. It does not release any toxic substances as linoleum’s raw materials are provided by nature, and decomposition returns linoleum to nature. This can be called as an ultimate form of recycling a product.
Linoleum adhesives are 100 percent natural
You need to be proactive to be socially responsible. Linoleum makes for a greener home as all adhesives used in linoleum installation are solvent free and meet low VOC guidelines. This flooring does not require any major maintenance and is long lasting. You do not to clean linoleum flooring with excessive water, another reason for it to be environment friendly. Over a period of time, water saved while cleaning floors can make a substantial difference to the availability of this natural resource. You can clean linoleum flooring with little water and via dry maintenance techniques. Linoleum is manufactured using oxidized linseed oil, optimizing the environmental performance of the entire system.
Linoleum flooring has no traces of toxic material
Linoleum flooring contains no heavy metals or toxic substances. Its production involves usage of natural biodegradable products. It does not contain any environmentally incompatible substances like tar, formaldehyde, sulphur or PVC. There is no off gassing as it is made from natural materials like linseed oil and other such substances. It has anti bacterial and anti static properties, which reduces the subsequent dust over this flooring. This reduces the need of using harsh chemicals during its cleaning process. This easy to clean linoleum flooring is durable, lasting up to 20 to 25 years reducing the floor impact on the environment. Linoleum has health benefits due to its production from linseed oil. It is a hard wearing flooring, which resists stains, scratches and water easily.
Cost effective linoleum flooring
The cost of linoleum flooring will depend on the quality and design you choose. Always remember that it is made of natural products, and natural fibers tend to contract and expand according to the climate. Take help of an expert while buying material for your green house to use this eco friendly flooring material. Due to its antibacterial properties, you do not need to invest in floors disinfectants for its cleaning and maintenance. This also helps you save on your monthly cleaning budget.
Conclusion
Green flooring choices are limited as they need to be made of natural substances. Other elements like installation, cleaning, health effects and ability to be recycled; all make an important aspect when choosing a green flooring material. Linoleum is becoming the choice of many buyers as it fulfills all these environment friendly requirements. It offers to be a natural, eco friendly, hard wearing and attractive flooring mechanism. This green flooring material is tough and can last for decades. Various materials used for manufacturing linoleum like wood flour, rosin and ground cork dust are highly renewable substances. They give linoleum the flexibility and strength and regrow quickly once harvested. Its sharpness has made it a popular choice amongst the environment friendly people. Being made from natural material, it helps in reducing the global impact on the nature. it is made from non toxic substances and does not persist in the environment. It can be a perfect flooring material for your green home.
