Lately, the need to embrace a sustainable and eco-friendly environment is becoming intense. People are becoming more environmentally conscious and making choices to reflect their goals. However, as First & Main Management team says, most people love the aesthetic appeal of a wood floor and the value it adds to a property. But they only want to use products that will not harm the environment in the process. If you are in this category, then this is for you.

Here, we will discuss everything you should know about eco-friendly wood flooring.

What is a sustainable or eco-friendly wood floor?

According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), eco-friendly wood floors are floors from forests that are protected, monitored, and managed to ensure that the trees regrow for more generations in the future.

What to look for when selecting wooden flooring

If you want to make the most sustainable choices, there are specific certifications to look for before buying the wood. Doing so will prevent you from purchasing items that will harm the environment. Certifications to look for include:

· Forest Stewardship Council Certification (FSC)

This certification is the gold standard when it concerns sustainable wood flooring. The council is an international non-profit organization that ensures responsible and beneficial forest management. Before they certify any product, they ensure that it meets all their fifty-seven criteria and ten principles.

· American Tree Farm System certification (ATFS)

ATFS is another non-profit body that certifies sustainable wood products. When you spot their certification on a wooden floor, you can be sure of their sustainability.

· Sustainable Forestry Initiative Certification (SFI)

Sustainable forestry initiative is also a non-profit that protects the forest. However, their certification process is less rigorous than the FSC certification. For instance, the Sustainable forestry initiative checks to prevent wood from old-growth forests.

Most sustainable choices for eco-friendly wood flooring

Below are some of the most sustainable choices for wood floors.

1. Pine wood flooring 

Sustainable woods come from trees that regrow for future use. Pinewoods are softwoods that grow faster than other hardwoods. For that reason, it is a sustainable choice. Apart from being eco-friendly, pine woods are affordable and more cost-effective. You can customize them to suit your style. Another benefit of pine wood is that the stain well.

2. Oak wood flooring

Oak wood is in abundance. It is predominant in most FSC-certified forests in the United States of America. Because of its abundance, oak wood is among the most popular hardwood flooring in the United States. Although oak wood has some downsides, it is a better alternative to other less-sustainable wood floors.

3. Douglas fir flooring

Douglas fir is another softwood species in the Pacific Northwest. As a softwood, it grows very fast and tall. Douglas fir provides plank lengths that are longer than the average because they are very tall. Since they are quick in regenerating, Douglas fir is a renewable and sustainable option.

4. Maple wood flooring

The more abundant the trees are, the more sustainable the wood. The maple tree is one of the most abundant trees in North America. You can have them in two varieties: hardwoods or softwoods. Maple wood is eco-friendly and appears clean. If you desire mid-century or Scandinavian design, maple wood will be a good choice because the fine grains offer a uniform appearance. Maple wood is commonly used on floors, stair rails, cabinets, furniture, lumber, and so on.

5. Black Cherry wood flooring

Remember that one of the essential characteristics of sustainable wood is the ability to regrow fast. Black cherry trees can grow quicker than other hardwood options. You can commonly see them throughout the Appalachian region in the FSC-certified forests.

Black cherry wood has many interesting characteristics. It is aesthetically appealing and comes in different hues. For instance, the natural reddish and pink hues become enriched and dark after exposure to sunlight. This makes it an intriguing option for wood flooring. Although Black cherry trees can regrow fast, they have a shorter lifespan.

6. Hemp wood flooring

Hemp flooring is another fascinating and sustainable option in several ways. The manufacturing process involves compressing hemp and soy-based resins. Hemp is environmentally friendly because it is biodegradable, absorbs carbon from the air four times more than other trees, and grows one hundred times faster than oak trees. Apart from the environmental benefits, hemp flooring has other advantages, such as scratch resistance and high durability (Janka rating of 2750)

Bottom lines: Eco-Friendly Wood Flooring, The Most Sustainable Choices

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle does not end with choosing eco-friendly woods. Proper installation of the flood is essential to ensure the durability and sustainability of the project. Remember to hire the services of professionals throughout the process of selecting and installing the most suitable wood flooring for your property. Your experts may offer other beneficial options that are eco-friendly based on your location.