Environmental Issues

Eco Hardwood Flooring strongly believes that wood is an eco-friendly flooring option. After all, wood is a natural material – renewable, non-toxic, recyclable and energy-efficient to grow and manufacture. It truly is one of the only major building materials that is made naturally without unhealthy chemicals and by-products. Therefore, because wood as a material is eco-friendly, the term “green” focuses on sources rather than characteristics. In order to determine if a wood product is green, you must know where the wood came from.

All wood either comes from a salvaged, reclaimed, or recycled source, or is harvested from forests or plantations. Unfortunately, both sourcing options have some issues and misconceptions surrounding them today that we would like to take the time to explain and remedy.

While it seems environmentally-responsible to buy wood flooring that claims to have been “recycled”, “salvaged” or “reclaimed”, these terms are often used interchangeably, or even incorrectly. This is because there is no universal industry standard that clearly defines these terms, and without clear standards or requirements it’s easy to offer these greenwashed products. Greenwashing is a legitimate issue in the industry and to remedy this problem Eco Hardwood Flooring clearly labels and defines how our green wood flooring products are sourced and third party certified on our Environmental Attribute Guide.

Harvested wood and logging is generally thought to eliminate the world’s natural forests entirely to use the land in other ways. While irresponsible or illegal logging and deforestation are serious global problems today, logging is not always detrimental to the environment. Sustainable forestry exists where proper controlled forest management practices allow for harvesting wood to be eco-friendly. Natural forests can be managed carefully in ways that preserve the ecosystem and the services they provide.

Today, there are several environmentally responsible sources for wood products that are distinguished by independent certifications. Eco Hardwood Flooring follows the guidelines and practices set out by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), as it is the current industry leading third party certifying organization. FSC®-certified wood pushes the timber industry in a more responsible direction, discouraging illegal logging and promoting sustainable sourcing and milling practices. Forest certification is very important, as it allows consumers to use their purchasing power to support forestry practices that conserves forests for future generations. If you are interested in contributing to sustainable forestry, take a look at our certified products today.