By Emily Hooper
It used to be that those concerned with the environment were quirky and eccentric, often called “tree-huggers.” Is it a coincidence then, that one of the most eco-friendly floors is sourced from trees? Environmental responsibility is now one of the most important aspects of flooring, and hardwood is at the forefront all the way down the line—from growers to end-users. Plant manufacturing initiatives, sourcing guidelines and transparency programs for solid and engineered hardwoods are improving on nature by going greener.

The starting point of production is an area that has seen great improvement over the years. Manufacturers are implementing new operations to reduce energy use and ultimately cost.

Mullican has cut down on energy spending by using each part of the tree, going beyond flooring. Leftovers are ground into dust and used to power drying kilns and boilers for heating the plants, said Brian Greenwell, vice president of sales and marketing. “When there’s excess dust in the summer, we sell it to other manufacturers for use in the production of particle board or decking.”

Armstrong has a similar practice. “We utilize waste wood and sawdust to operate our boilers with remaining excess being sold for wood pellets, composite decking and charcoal production,” said Daniel Call, vice president of product management for wood. He added that several plants are ISO 14001 certified.

Similarly, Shaw certifies its plants under several environmental and safety programs, said David Wilkerson, director of corporate sustainability and product stewardship. Making the most of what it has to work with, Shaw released its Grand Canyon solid line made entirely from mill byproducts that historically would have been converted into mulch or used as fuel, he said.

Wilkerson also discussed the Epic collection, an engineered line that recently received silver level Cradle to Cradle certification.

USFloors also utilizes byproducts and dust as fuel, said Gary Keeble, marketing manager. Furthermore, “Glueless cork and bamboo flooring has been installed in all our offices, lights are on a zone control system, restrooms have low-flow toilets to reduce water usage and trash is sorted and recycled.” He also cited the solar panels on the roof of the Dalton facility as one of the biggest things USFloors is doing for the environment.

Wood is one of the most renewable resources and companies are doing all they can to replenish what they harvest. The National Wood Flooring Association ( NWFA) noted some important changes in the conservation of resources, especially in reforestation. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service indicates that for every tree harvested, 1.6 are planted in its place,” said Ed Korczak, president of the organization.

The Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF), partnered with Armstrong to replant trees, starting last year, Call said ( FCNews May 5/12, 2008). “In 2009, we have been funding five projects with HFF in or near communities where we operate, and in just two years our efforts will yield over one million trees planted in the U.S.”

It’s all about trust

Starting at the source, mills are going beyond the Lacey Act to provide extra verification for the origin of lumber. To review, the Lacey Act is the recently revised 100-year-old federal law that prohibits illegal lumber from entering the country, or being sold domestically (FCNews Mar. 9/16).

The NWFA has its own program to verify wood sourcing, said Korczak. “Our Responsible Procurement Program for Hardwood (RPPH) identifies companies as sourcing their raw materials from responsibly managed forests, whether in the U.S. or abroad.” He added the association’s program is recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The relatively new RPPH is co-piloted by Mullican, said Greenwell (FCNews Aug. 17/24). “In addition to supporting NWFA and FSC, Mullican’s pre-finished domestic products carry the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers verified sustainable logo.”

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is also at the forefront of the minds of environmental vanguards. “At a time when people spend over 90% of their time indoors, the GreenGuard certification mark is a valuable tool for consumers who want to identify, locate, specify and purchase off-the-shelf, low-emitting products for their indoor home environments,” said John Woolsey, vice president of marketing and merchandising at Anderson Floors, noting the company was the first hardwood manufacturer to receive the award on all its flooring.

Along the line of firsts, Mohawk engineered woods were the first in the industry to achieve compliance with phase 2 of the California Air Resources Board, (CARB), for formaldehyde emissions, said Roger Farabee, senior vice president of marketing. He furthered the manufacturer was also the first to earn FloorScore certification. “FloorScrore testing screens products for 78 specifically identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which are identified by California’s Proposition 65 as known carcinogens or reproductive toxins.”

Armstrong works to reduce VOC emissions as well. “Bruce Lock&Fold and Armstrong Locking hardwood don’t require any adhesive at all,” said Call. “When they are needed, we specify and supply adhesives that meet the strictest IAQ standards, including the South Coast Air Quality Management District requirements for adhesives and sealants.”

The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is another way for manufacturers to consider environmental impact in the bigger picture. Armstrong has its hand in this jar, too, with its hardwoods eligible to earn credits in LEED for homes, including MR Credit 2.2 (b), said Call.

Engineered vs. solid

Is one greener than the other? With no definitive right or wrong, the answer remains up in the air. Korczak noted both are green as could be, as they are sourced from a renewable resource—trees.

Some producers focus on the greener attributes of engineered hardwood. “They can use 85% to 95% less of the desirable species veneer wood than a solid floor, depending on the thickness of the veneer and plank of the engineered floor,” said Keeble.

However, engineered floors sometimes use glues that may not be good for the environment, commented Greenwell. “It’s also important to factor in the costs of transportation and how the mode of transportation used might have affected the environment.”

Solid hardwoods bring beauty, warmth and value to the home, and potentially another home after that, executives noted. Reclaimed wood flooring is a great way to recycle, and add authentic character to a room. Wood planks are the perfect construction for any other type of wood project, too, from shelving to cabinetry, and extend the life cycle of the solid floor.