Smooth flooring materials compared
Key issues
PVC
The debate between the green movement and the plastics industry proceeds.
A report commissioned by the EC in 2004 titled ‘Life Cycle
Assessment of PVC and of principal competing materials’ summarized
its section on flooring:
“Most flooring application studies conclude that linoleum has
comparable or slightly fewer environmental impacts compared to PVC flooring
of equivalent quality in the production phase. One study (IPU 0013)
states that wooden flooring tends to have lower impacts than PVC and
linoleum, but is more demanding in the use and maintenance phase. “
However, an earlier report commissioned by DEFRA in 2000, ‘Life
Cycle Assessment of Polyvinyl Chloride and Alternatives’
extended the usual life cycle analysis into the area of risk:
“Both the PVC and PS (Polystyrene) life cycles exhibit a greater
degree of risk than the other materials considered. This is due to the
nature of the industrial processes involved such as oil and gas, ethylene,
chlorine, ethylene dichloride (EDC) and PVC production for PVC products
and oil and gas, ethylene, benzene, ethyl benzene and styrene production
for PS. The hazards associated with these processes are typically greater
in impact if and when they occur, in some cases (e.g. fires and explosions
in oil and gas production) having the potential to be catastrophic,
resulting in the potential for a considerable number of fatalities from
a single incident. Whilst the hazards may be considerable, due to regulatory
controls, the likelihood of occurrence and the resulting risks are reduced.”
Some specifiers might prefer not to take the risk.
Variation of environmental attributes
Though attention below is devoted to the difference between the main
categories of flooring, there is almost as much variation occurring
within the sub-categories. Before specifying, it is prudent to examine
the product’s provenance eg manufacturing method, fuels used,
distance the product has travelled and any particular maintenance requirements.
Types of flooring:
1 Natural flooring
Linoleum
 |
Recyclable |
|
Renewable resource |
|
Non toxic |
|
Durable |
|
Biodegradable |
 |
CH4 emissions from fertiliser used in linseed production |
|
Eutrophication from fertiliser used in linseed
production |
Cork
|
Can include recycled cork |
|
Recyclable |
|
Low embodied energy at factory gates |
|
Renewable resource |
|
Biodegradable |
|
Non toxic |
|
Durable |
|
Thermal and insulation properties |
|
Imported to the UK primarily from Portugal - increasing
embodied energy |
|
Some flooring includes formaldehyde |
|
Sealants, if used, can produce harmful VOCs |
FSC sourced Wood
|
Recyclable and reusable |
|
Low embodied energy if sourced in the UK |
|
Renewable resource |
|
Biodegradable |
|
Non-toxic |
|
Durable |
|
Sealants, if used, can produce harmful VOCs |
Rubber
|
Down-cyclable and reusable |
|
Renewable resource |
|
Non-toxic |
|
Very durable |
|
Sound absorption properties |
|
Some rubber floors can include PVC, plasticizers
or halogens – Check contents! |
|
Continuous minor off-gassing needs ventilation |
|
Incineration generates toxic fumes |
Ceramic tiles
|
Can include recycled materials |
|
Recyclable |
|
Abundant natural resource |
|
Non-toxic |
|
Easy maintenance |
|
Extremely durable |
|
Usable in wet areas |
|
High embodied energy |
|
Imported tiles add to embodied energy |
Stone tiles
|
Recyclable and reusable |
|
Abundant natural resource |
|
Non-toxic |
|
Easy maintenance |
|
Extremely durable |
|
Imported stone adds to embodied energy |
|
Stone quarrying can degrade the landscape |
|
Sealants, if used, can produce harmful VOCs |
2 Synthetic flooring
Recycled rubber
|
Contains recycled rubber (mostly tires) |
|
Down-cyclable |
|
Reusable |
|
Durable |
|
Sound absorption properties |
|
Can be laid without adhesive |
|
Continuous minor off gassing needs ventilation |
|
Non-biodegradable |
|
Some rubber floors can include PVC, plasticizers
or halogens – Check contents! |
|
Incineration generates toxic fumes |
Polyolefin (eg polyethylene and polypropylene)
|
Theoretically recyclable |
|
Durable |
|
Odour-free |
|
Easy maintenance |
|
Low emissions in the manufacturing process |
|
Made from non-renewable petroleum resources |
|
Petrochemicals refining is a major source of greenhouse
gases, acid rain and toxins |
|
Non-biodegradable |
PVC
|
Theoretically recyclable |
|
Durable |
|
Odour-free |
|
Easy maintenance |
|
Long term emissions to soil if committed to land
fill at end of life |
|
Made from non-renewable petroleum resources |
|
Petrochemicals refining is a major source of greenhouse
gases, acid rain and toxins |
|
The use of chlorine in the manufacturing process
presents a risk to health |
We would specify:
First choice: • FSC Wood • Reclaimed wood
• Linoleum • Cork • Local stone
Second choice: • Ceramic • Rubber •
Recycled rubber
If you are attached to PVC: • Use an alternative
such as Polyolefin
Further information:
• Sustainable Floors website at www.sustainablefloors.co.uk
• 'Life Cycle Assessment of PVC and of principal competing materials'
- EC (download)
• 'Environmental Impacts of PVC Building Materials' (Thornton
/ Healthy Building Network)
(download)
