Hicksville, N.Y.—As the world continues to become more “green” conscious, the use of environmentally friendly flooring products continues to grow as well. Cork, bamboo and linoleum are taking off as alternative flooring choices as an increasing number of architects and designers discover and, in many cases, rediscover the environmentally friendly attributes inherent in each.

One of the manufacturers taking advantage of the turn towards green is US Floors, which has both bamboo and cork in its product line. “The way cork is harvested from the cork oak is done in an environmentally friendly manner,” said Piet Dossche, president. “The cork oak traditionally takes 25 years to mature before it can be harvested. Then, every nine years, that process can be repeated.” With the cork oak, Dossche noted, trees are not being cut down. “The bark is being taken or peeled off. As a matter of fact, the tree survives longer if this process is taking place. A tree can last as long as 150 years if properly harvested. So, from a raw materials point of view, it’s not about cutting down a tree, but helping it to mature and live a longer, healthier life by removing the cork bark every nine years.”

Dossche also noted cork’s attributes after it is installed. “It’s totally hypo-allergenic, inherently anti-microbial and insect repellent, as well as fire retardant. It’s a natural product, a natural resource and it’s harvested with the environment in mind. The product offers all these benefits and it is durable as well.” “Cork flooring is nature’s gift to mankind,” said Barbara Napolitano, marketing manager for Ceres. “It’s nature’s almost perfect floor because the tree is never cut down. The crop is harvested every nine years, so a tree can live to be more than 200 years old. Here we have a natural product that can be considered a crop, and flooring is the second product to come of it, after wine stoppers. That’s magical. “The other beauty of cork people don’t realize is, cork is so old it’s new again,” she explained. “It’s been used in America since before the turn of the century, in huge, federal buildings in Washington, D.C., etc., and most of these floors have lasted more than 30 years. So, the longevity of this product makes it environmentally friendly as well and, with its ease of installation, it is also a consumer friendly product.”

Like Dossche, Napolitano noted, cork is naturally anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-insect infestant. “That’s a lot. People also don’t realize cork is a closed air cell product, so it recovers very quickly. The floor compresses and comes back. Just like a winestopper taken out of a bottle of wine, when you try to put in back in again a half-hour later, you have a problem. To me, there just can’t be anything more perfect. And it’s acoustically friendly, too.” Veronica Salazar of Nova Distinctive Floors said more people are seeing the durability of cork floors where it has been installed in the past, and are looking at it as a viable alternative. “Commercially, we are seeing it go into a lot of cafes, coffee shops and high-end type salons, places with a cozy feel to them. Cork really helps bring that out. It’s quiet as well.” Bamboo is another type of green product enjoying increased popularity over the last several years.

“It is a very fast growing plant, a very sustainable product,” said Dorothy Wong, vice president of marketing for D&M Bamboo. “It matures in five to six years and can then be harvested. Due to its hardness, it is as comparable to many hardwood flooring products. It is a natural green product that is environmentally friendly. “It is now being accepted by people more readily than before,” she continued, “and therefore is being used in more applications. It used to be considered just as an exotic species, but now it is regarded as another alternative people can turn to as far as hardwood surfaces are concerned. And because of its very distinctive grain pattern, it makes it pleasing to the eye for people who want to be a little bit different.”

“To me, cork and bamboo fit very well together,” said Dossche, “that’s why we offer a natural flooring display featuring a natural flooring story. They complement each other. Just like cork, when bamboo is harvested the plantations are not destroyed. After they are harvested, the roots stay in the ground and, five to six years later there is a 60-ft. high bamboo plant from which they can make all kinds of products including flooring. “So, we start with a renewable resource, just like we have with cork, and it is processed so that the natural characteristics of the product are being respected,” he added. “It’s not stained, there is no dye added to it. It either comes in its natural color or a carbonized color. Regarding it's advantages, not only do you have a very environmentally friendly product, but you have a beautiful floor as well that offers a distinct, exotic aspect. “Bamboo today is hot,” he explained. “You see it in magazines, and as furniture as well as flooring. There are so many applications for it. The fact that you can make such a beautiful floor out of a hollow stem is very intriguing.”

Another intriguing green floor is linoleum, which has seemingly make a comeback in recent years. With more companies coming out with their own versions of the product, more choices are now becoming available. Manufacturers like Domco Tarkett Commercial not only offer linoleum, but adhere to green practices and certifications as well. “At every stage of every product’s life cycle, we make sure we’re doing all we can to eliminate or minimize any potential impact on the environment,” said Gilles de Beaumont, president. “This approach holds true across all product lines, for every plant we operate and every truck we drive. Everyday, we strive to be an ever greener company. We are constantly seeking out recycling opportunities to add to the proactive measures we are already taking at every stage of a product’s life cycle.”

With its Linosum linoleum, Domco Tarkett Commercial offers a completely natural product, de Beaumont noted, composed solely of raw materials from nature. “As much as possible, green or sustainable raw materials are used. All of Domco Tarkett Commercial’s products help contribute to achieving up to seven potential LEED points when evaluated under the Project Checklist by the U.S. Green Building Council.” “Many consumers are interested in buying products made from naturally renewable materials,” said Roger Oates, vice president of Armstrong Floor Products. “Both vinyl and genuine linoleum offer high style, but they are very different products. Vinyl is synthetic, and linoleum is made from all-natural materials. They offer different looks, different wear characteristics, and require different care.

“Today, a new generation of consumers is looking for versatile and environmentally compatible products for their homes,” he added. “Linoleum offers a myriad of design options such as checkerboards, borders and insets. “Its appeal is further enhanced by its green characteristics consisting of all-natural materials that extend all the way to its jute fiber backing,” concluded Oates. “No environmental toxins are used in linoleum’s manufacture. This combination of natural, non-toxic materials make linoleum resistant to bacteria. It also ‘blooms’ with age, undergoing subtle color changes over time and, when exposed to light, gives a room distinctive character.”