More on Marmoleum
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.27.05
Treehugger has marvelled at Marmoleum before (marblized linoleum flooring) but we just attended a presentation where we held the ingredients in our hands and we were so impressed that we thought a little more detail was in order.
The main ingredient is linseed oil, produced by pressing seeds from flax, an easy to cultivate and abundant plant.
Pine Rosins act as a flexible binder. Pine Rosin is extracted from pine trees around the world.
They used to use cork, but have turned to wood flour, a very fine sawdust made from controlled European sustainable forests.
Ecologically friendly natural pigments are used
and the backing is natural jute grown and woven in India and Bangladesh.
The ingredients are squeezed through rollers onto the backing, and hung up to dry, draped over rollers, exactly as they have done for 150 years.
add to the mix that it is naturally antibacterial and antistatic, and has a useful life of 40 years, and it is hard to think of how a flooring product could be more "green" than this.
::Marmoleum
Pretend I'm raising my hand?
"Um, just what is it? Could your comments about this marmoleum actually mention that it's flooring?" You might actually stir up more interest by letting people know just what in the world you're talking about without multiple clicks.
And just because it was discussed before doesn't mean that all your readers saw it or remember it.
Good Point! Consider it corrected.
The best part: When it needs to be disposed of, its completely biodegradable. A true life cycle.