Sustainable Materials

Flooring: Marmoleum Sheets

Manufacturer: Forbo Flooring | Product Homepage

“Marmoleum is a high-quality product and the ideal flooring for any room in the house, from the hallway, kitchen and children’s rooms, where traffic is likely to be heaviest, to the living room, study or bedroom. And because of the natural ingredients found in Marmoleum, the product continues to harden and become more durable over time.”    

- Forbo Flooring

 

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Marmoleum is made from all natural ingredients, and has the lowest environmental footprint of any flooring.  Naturally occurring anti-microbial properties help to inhibit the growth of many microorganisms, including allergen producing dust mites and the MRSA strains of bacteria, making Marmoleum an ideal product to help create a healthier indoor environment.

 

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Maintenance: Sweeping, vacuuming and/or dust mopping will be the most effective method to maintain your Marmoleum floor. If the floor is muddy, it can be cleaned with a damp mop. Make sure the dirt is rinsed out of the mop so it does not spread back onto the floor.

 

If dirt has become ingrained into the floor, it should be removed by applying friction with a scrubbing sponge. Do not use aggressive cleaning tools. For larger spaces, small rotary floor machines or wet vacuum cleaners are very effective at cleaning and removing ingrained dirt. After cleaning, allow the floor to dry completely before allowing foot traffic.

 

Cleaning up spots or spills in a timely manner is highly recommended to keep your Marmoleum floor in pristine condition. Scrape or blot the spill as much as possible, then mop the floor with either clean water, or a solution of Forbo Neutral pH Cleaner. Repeat if necessary. If the stain persists, you may need to allow the solution to sit on the floor for several minutes. The stained area may need to be rubbed with a green nylon kitchen pad and then rinsed with clean water. If this approach is unsuccessful, contact Forbo Technical Services before trying any other procedures.

 

DO NOT:

• Mix cleaning chemicals unless specified by the manufacturer. 
• Apply furniture polish or silicone products onto the Marmoleum.
• Apply finish to a floor with surface dirt. It will seal the dirt in.
• Apply thick coats of finish. Two or three thin coats are better than one thick one. 
• Use too much water when cleaning Marmoleum.

 

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Marmoleum Sheet Flooring helps to satisfy the following LEED credits:

 

LEED NC (New Construction): Materials & Resources:

Credit 4.1 Recycled Content

Credit 4.2 Recycled Content

Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials

 

LEED CI (Commercial Interiors) Category: Materials & Resources:

Credit MRc 4.1 Recycled Content

Credit MRc 4.2 Recycled Content

 

Category: Indoor Environmental Quality:

Credit Eqc 4.1 Low-Emitting Materials

 

LEED EB (Existing Buildings) Category Materials & Resources:

Credit 2 Optimize Use of Alternative Materials

Credit 3 Optimize Use of IAQ

 

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“An Environmental Product Declaration, EPD®, is a verified document that reports environmental data of products based on life cycle assessment (LCA) and other relevant information and in accordance with the international standard ISO 14025 (Type III Environmental Declarations).”  

 - The International EPD System

 

Below is the Environmental Product Declaration and Health Product Declaration that describes the environmental characteristics of Marmoleum Sheet Flooring with regards to material, life cycle impact and analysis, and the manufacturing process:

 

EPD for ISO 14025 and EN15804

HPD and SMART Certification

 

Marmoleum Flooring is a USDA-certified bio-based product, is SMART-certified, and is Allergy and Asthma Friendly-certified.

 

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In a number of countries, companies can apply for environmental certification of their products. These environmental quality marks are awarded for products that meet the stringent criterion on which certification is based.

 

Environmental Labels & Certifications:

 

The Netherlands: “In 1998 Marmoleum®, Artoleum®, Walton and Corklinoleum received the Netherlands Environmental Quality Mark. This Dutch Eco label covers the whole life cycle.”

 

Scandinavia: “The Nordic Swan Label aims to stimulate environmentally minded purchasing behavior by disseminating information among users. Maintaining this label is an indication of continued commitment to ever improving performance, as with each re-certification the performance standard is raised.”

 

Austria: “In 2001 Marmoleum® and Artoleum® received the Austrian environmental label UZ 42. By receiving this label we prove that we offer an environmentally friendly option in resilient flooring. For UZ 42 products are evaluated on contents of halogens, heavy metals, bactericides and fungicides and on emissions. The environ- mental impact during production, use and disposal are also assessed. UZ 42 is only given to products that are amongst the most environmentally friendly alternatives available.”

 

USA: “In the USA, Desk Top and Bulletin Board received an environment award in 1997. Desk Top and Bulletin Board were declared winners of the much-coveted AWFS Sequoia Award. The Sequoia Award, presented by the Association of Woodworking and Furnishing Suppliers, is granted to organizations within the industry that demonstrate environmental innovation and leadership in conservation techniques, applications and processes. Our linoleum received Buildings Magazine’s Innovations Award for ‘Environmental Sensitivity’ at the Neocon World’s Trade Fair in 1998, 1999 and 2001 (Chicago).”

 

Australia: “The ‘Good Environmental Choice’ Ecolabel is awarded to those products that meet or exceed voluntary standards of environmental performance. The program considers key environmental impacts along the product’s life cycle and delivers independent product environmental information for a wide range of consumer and building products.”

 

New Zealand: “The New Zealand Ecolabeling Trust is a voluntary, multiple specification based environmental label, initiated and endorsed by the New Zealand Government to reduce the environmental impact of products. It provides a credible and independent guide for consumers who want to purchase more environmentally friendly products.”

 

Germany: “In 2004 Forbo was the first resilient flooring company to obtain the Nature Plus certificate for Marmoleum® and Artoleum®. Nature Plus is a Europe wide environmental product label testing products on environmental, health and functional characteristics. Products can only be approved when they have:

 

• At least 85% renewable and/or mineral components;

• A building approval and are in compliance with the relevant EN standards (functional suitability);

• No use of substances which are harmful or hazardous to health or to the environment;

• A conservationist and environmentally friendly production (eco-indicators);

• Strict laboratory testing of products for hazardous substances and emissions;

• An independent cross-section of society, drawn from within the organization, which checks that the labels are valid and useful.”

- Sustainable Development: Taking Care of the Environment,

     - Forbo Flooring

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Material Ingredients: Marmoleum flooring consists of linseed and/or tall oil, limestone, tree rosin, wood flour, natural mineral pigments, and jute.