NWFA Releases New EPD for Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., Feb. 16, 2022 — The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has released two Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) conducted by an independent third party to assess the cradle-to-grave
environmental impacts of solid and engineered wood flooring products. Mullican Flooring was one of fourteen companies to partner with the NWFA to determine the lifetime environmental impacts of hardwood flooring, from
manufacturing to disposal.
EPDs measure a wide range of environmental impacts the product might have, including the total global warming potential, the ozone depletion potential, and the consumption of freshwater resources. These measurements help architects and builders select environmentally friendly materials to meet green building standards. The two new EPDs also offer Mullican Flooring the opportunity to demonstrate the superior sustainability of hardwood flooring as compared to other short-lived flooring products.
The total carbon emissions of one square meter of solid hardwood flooring over a 75-year lifespan was found to be somewhere between 9.16 kg and 26.33 kg CO2. For comparison, rigid-core Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) emits a minimum of 64.27 kg CO2 over its lifetime.
When compared to other popular flooring choices such as tile, vinyl, and rubber flooring, solid and engineered hardwood have the lowest carbon emissions. Hardwood is the clear environmental choice.
With a range of refinishable solid and engineered flooring, Mullican offers a wide variety of flooring that, with the right care and maintenance, may last well beyond the 75-year lifespan estimate used in the study. Mullican also continues to support the growth of our domestic forests to create a natural carbon sink. In the Appalachian Mountains where Mullican sources its lumber, there are 2.45 new trees growing for every one that dies or is harvested.
This new EPD solidifies Mullican Flooring’s position in the market as a sustainable manufacturer whose products and process have a remarkably low carbon footprint.
Read the full solid flooring EPD here and engineered flooring EPD here.
EPDs measure a wide range of environmental impacts the product might have, including the total global warming potential, the ozone depletion potential, and the consumption of freshwater resources. These measurements help architects and builders select environmentally friendly materials to meet green building standards. The two new EPDs also offer Mullican Flooring the opportunity to demonstrate the superior sustainability of hardwood flooring as compared to other short-lived flooring products.
The total carbon emissions of one square meter of solid hardwood flooring over a 75-year lifespan was found to be somewhere between 9.16 kg and 26.33 kg CO2. For comparison, rigid-core Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) emits a minimum of 64.27 kg CO2 over its lifetime.
When compared to other popular flooring choices such as tile, vinyl, and rubber flooring, solid and engineered hardwood have the lowest carbon emissions. Hardwood is the clear environmental choice.
With a range of refinishable solid and engineered flooring, Mullican offers a wide variety of flooring that, with the right care and maintenance, may last well beyond the 75-year lifespan estimate used in the study. Mullican also continues to support the growth of our domestic forests to create a natural carbon sink. In the Appalachian Mountains where Mullican sources its lumber, there are 2.45 new trees growing for every one that dies or is harvested.
This new EPD solidifies Mullican Flooring’s position in the market as a sustainable manufacturer whose products and process have a remarkably low carbon footprint.
Read the full solid flooring EPD here and engineered flooring EPD here.
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