In addition to the many green qualities from the mills, laminate flooring has many inherent environmentally friendly characteristics that make it easy for retailers to use and market as selling points. The following are just some of these traits, as well as some of the more general initiatives the major mills are undertaking to make the category green:

• Laminate is made from wood chips/fiber. Mills can use any type of easily renewable species—pine, oak, etc.

• Laminate floors can effectively imitate any of the very popular endangered materials. From exotic hardwoods to rare stones, not a single tree is felled or rock mined.

• Laminate flooring requires minimal maintenance. This means no harsh chemicals are needed to clean the product.

• Everything but the bark and leaf are used so close to 100% of the tree is utilized, making for less waste. And the little waste that is generated is usually used for fuel to help heat manufacturing facilities.

• Most of the product’s cores are produced using recycled materials, with some ranging between 75% and 100%.

• Just about all laminate floors now utilize some type of mechanical locking system. This means there are fewer materials to use to install it, such as glue; it can be easily repaired without lifting or repairing the whole floor, and there is little need for any power tools, which means less energy, less noise and less waste.

• Laminate flooring is a very durable and long-lasting product. This results in less need for replacement and thus, less material being discarded and sent to landfills.

• Some companies no longer use adhesives in the manufacturing process—products are created using heat and pressure only.

• The decorative paper layer is printed using water-based, low-VOC inks.

• Many mills now package their laminate products in cartons that are made from recycled cardboard.

• Because of its mechanical locking system, laminate floors can be reused multiple times so they can be donated to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity instead of being thrown into the landfill.