Sustainable Wood Products For Flooring, Paneling & Trim

There are a variety of products available to both commercial developers and residential homeowners alike that offer a greener alternative to traditional wood choices.

	Foresta® Foresta is a waterproof laminate flooring that looks like real wood but is actually made from a 100% PVC core that’s resistant to bacteria and mold. Because of its mold resistance, Foresta is a good choice for naturally humid areas like basements, kitchens, bathrooms and foyers. And since it’s the installation is formaldehyde-free, that means the property’s indoor air quality will be much healthier as well.
	Bamtex & Plybo Bamboo Bamtex and Plybo both offer quality bamboo flooring. Bamboo is a highly durable wood substitute considered sustainable because bamboo matures in just three years (compared to the decades it takes an oak or maple tree to re-grow). And since the plants regenerate without replanting and don’t need much fertilizer or pesticides no added chemicals are needed, making it a less toxic product as well as a sustainable one. Plyboo, in addition to creating sustainable bamboo wood flooring, also offers bamboo wood paneling, trim molding, plywood, and veneers.
	Durapalm Durapalm manufacturers its durable coconut palm flooring from plantation-grown palm trees that don’t produce coconuts any longer. Like bamboo, coconut is a sustainable wood with over 150 species scattered across Southeast Asia and Central America.
	Lyptus® Eucalyptus trees are highly sustainable since they grow quickly. Lyptus hardwood eucalyptus flooring (as well as its hardwood for cabinetry, millwork, and furniture) is a durable and sustainable choice for builders interested in green alternatives.
	Globus Cork, APC Corp, and Wicanders Cork Flooring Cork flooring is very attractive to property owners because its structure naturally absorbs heat and sound, making it a fantastic insulator for the energy conscious. But there’s also a substance in the cork that resists bugs, mold, and mites. Add all this to the fact that cork is a highly sustainable product: no trees are killed in the production of the flooring. The bark, which re-grows within 9 years, is merely peeled back without harming the tree. Globus Cork with its stunning arrays of colors, APC Corp with its earthy Mediterranean cork oak flooring and Portuguese Wicanders Cork with its stylish and high end flooring, are all sustainable options for green builders and homeowners.
	Mohawk Reclaimed Wood Flooring Mohawk’s reclaimed wood flooring is made from solid hardwood planks salvaged from old buildings. These recycled planks are sanded and refinished to provide a wonderfully sophisticated and yet eco-conscious look.
	Kirei Board Kirei Board is a wood product made from leftover Sorghum stalks. These stalks are treated with a non-toxic adhesive to form wood panels that are perfect for walls, ceilings, cabinets, cabinet doors, furniture and flooring. Kirei is a renewable and eco-friendly choice because the manufacturing process is low-energy with minimal wastewater and air emissions.
	Engineered Wood Floors by Old Dutch Floors This engineered wood flooring is finished with oil, not polyurethane, so it’s much safer than traditional wood flooring.