Sustainable Timber Flooring Choices for Your Home

Timber is a resource that may be replenished by planting new trees as the old ones are harvested. However, the method becomes unsustainable if harvesting the timber destroys the habitat in which it grows or if renewable practices are not employed. Let's examine why timber reduces carbon emissions and how timber flooring service providers may ensure they use timber produced sustainably.

What Makes Timber Flooring Sustainable?

Although timber is a natural and renewable resource for flooring, is it sustainable? Only a few years ago, it was estimated that 10% of our annual timber imports ($840 million) were made up of products produced from illegally harvested timber, mostly outdoor furniture, timber boards and decking, pulp, and paper. This timber may have originated from rainforests cleared for development in nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, or Papua New Guinea. Importers and timber processors must now guarantee that the imported timber was produced legally.

Consider Recycled Timber

Recycled (reclaimed) boards are your best alternative. Recycled boards are a more sustainable option because some new plantation hardwood timbers take up to 100 years to develop. It's also a chance to use hard-to-find, rare hardwoods that could cost more than timber from plantations because of their rarity. Companies specialising in reclaimed floorboards are good places to find recycled timber. Likewise, keep an eye out for boards coming from abandoned structures.

Check for FSC Certification

Certified sustainable timber is the second-best alternative. The global eco-label FSC, which has representation from the ACF, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth, and Fauna & Flora International, is recommended by major environmental organisations. FSC is a globally recognised accreditation scheme established in the early 1990s to stop the harvesting of forests with significant conservation value. Find certified products by searching the FSC website. FSC certification guarantees that the timber came from sustainably managed forests, whether plantations or natural forests. You can find various timber from Australia and elsewhere in stores bearing the FSC logo.

Watch Out for False Claims

Keep an eye out for products with numerous timber layers or components, even if some have FSC or another eco-label certification. For instance, you can find plywood and timber veneer underneath engineered timber floorboards, but not all of the parts are from verified suppliers. After thoroughly reading the certification details, ask the supplier to ensure that the entire product is completely certified. Be wary of misleading eco-labels and other green claims. Some businesses create their own eco-labels, such as "certified plantation rainforest timber," which are meaningless and without any evidence of environmental advantages.

It's crucial to ensure the materials used in the installation procedure are as eco-friendly and low-toxic as possible once you've decided on the most suitable sustainable flooring option for your home. Consider carefully the products you use to clean and maintain your new flooring over time and examine the toxicity of any stains, coatings, and adhesives used in its installation.

At Eddy’s Timber Flooring, we only utilise certified sustainable and eco-friendly timber flooring materials for your home. For more details, please call us on 0404670676 or 0420223342. You may also fill out our Enquiry Form.

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