Fact or Fiction: Can Hardwood Be Considered Eco-Friendly Flooring?

Updated: June 1st, 2023

Trends come and go, but eco-friendly flooring is more than just a buzzword. For some homeowners, it’s a must-have in the bigger picture of living in an environmentally sound home, with as minimal a footprint as possible. Installing eco-friendly hardwood could be more feasible than you think. We’ve compiled several facts about hardwood floors to help you make an informed decision.

Do Hardwood Floors Contribute to Deforestation?

Trees are the big topic in nearly every environmental conversation, with preservation being the center point. Because of this, it’s easy to make the assumption that hardwood floors are wasteful and detrimental to forests (and nature itself).

The truth is, trees are chopped down to produce genuine hardwood floors. There’s no way around that.

But if hardwood floors are sourced from a well-managed forest, the trees that are cut down are immediately replaced with new trees. Not only does this help balance the tree population, but newer trees also are proven to produce more oxygen.

However, this isn’t always the case. Illegal tree harvesting is a real problem, and difficult to enforce. To do your part, make sure the manufacturers are mindful of where they source their wood.

Longer Lasting Hardwood, Less Replacements Required

Hardwood doesn’t just come with a timeless look. With the proper care, hardwood can last for generations. If you’re not replacing your floors with new wood every ten years, you’re also helping preserve our big planet in a small, yet impactful way.

The less you replace your floors, the less demand there is to use up precious natural resources.

While we can talk about wood look vinyl, tile, or laminate all day, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood can be more sustainable in the long run.

Can Hardwood Be Eco-Friendly Certified?

If you want to be sure of your hardwood flooring’s sustainability, look for an official stamp of approval from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an organization ensuring the proper management of global forests. The FSC gives certifications for hardwood grown, harvested, and manufactured with the environment in mind.

For eco-friendly flooring, look for the FSC stamp on the product itself (not just a logo on the website) first before you buy.

Is Solid Hardwood More Eco-Friendly Than Engineered Hardwood?

Both solid and engineered hardwood are highly durable, beautiful flooring options that can increase the overall value of your home. But what about the overall friendliness to the earth?

While both are sustainable flooring options, engineered hardwood is a bit more eco-friendly.

It’s constructed with just a top layer of natural hardwood, while an entire board of solid hardwood technically requires more wood (and trees) to produce.

The amount of wood used for one piece of solid hardwood can produce multiple engineered hardwood boards.

In Summary, “Green Hardwood” is Not Real

Until the day arrives in the distant future when someone can wave a magic wand and produce hardwood flooring out of thin air, hardwood floors are always going to require taking wood from the earth.

Eco-friendly flooring isn’t impossible. The key is to do thorough research to make sure you’re investing in eco-friendly flooring that will last.

To have a conversation with a dedicated flooring professional about what hardwood products are best for your home, Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate today!

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