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J UNE 2019 | 35 Resilient Flooring The latest eco-friendly resilient flooring options for 2019 by LAURIE JONES T he popularity of resilient flooring continues for a number of reasons, including durability and sustainabil- ity, major factors with the growing number of eco-conscious buyers. Manufacturers have introduced a number of prod- ucts that speak to that need, with colour ranges that will fit any installation for medical, foodservice, health care and residential projects. Forbo Flooring Systems recently introduced Marmoleum Marbled, a collection of modern classic designs inspired by the beauty of nature. The range includes two new patterns, Marmoleum Splash and Terra. "Splash is a fresh, playful design that appears subtle from a distance, but features surprising pops of colour up close," says Lori Lagana, marketing manager, Forbo Flooring Systems North America. "Marmoleum Terra features a sophisticated small- scale marble structure that was inspired by ingenious rock types and pairs well with other natural materi- als such as wood and stone." She adds the Real, Fresco, and Vivace lines have also been refreshed with shades that reflect nature and current interior design trends. Made from natural, renewable ingredients, Marmoleum Marbled is a CO2-neutral collection as each square metre of Marmoleum Marbled makes a negative contribution of -4 grams of CO2 emission. "This unique environmental performance is created by the fact that the amount of CO2 emitted dur- ing the production chain is entirely set-off against the CO2 that is absorbed by the natural raw mate- rials [plants, trees, and crops] during their lifetime before being harvested," Lagana explains. The lifecy- cle process of Forbo's Marmoleum is documented in an independent Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which is third party verified. "Forbo's new Feeling Grounded Marmoleum Marbled collection allows you to create natural, inviting spaces that are healthy and beauti- ful, while contributing to a more sustainable planet." Altro Floors' latest offering from its family of products is OOS – Altro Operetta, Altro Orchestra, and Altro Serenade – each offering a different thick- ness with a colourful range to match any type of installation. Altro Operetta, the thinnest of the options, works well for medium- to high-traffic areas. "Altro Orchestra is one of the most stain resistant products and like a lot of our sheet goods, it's highly resistant to indentation from furniture, equipment, and foot traffic," says Richard Finnegan, marketing manager. "The health-care industry is an impor- tant segment for us so Orchestra won't be damaged by hospital beds, carts, and wheelchairs. Because of the cushioned backing, the product also helps with underfoot comfort for health-care workers, teachers, and restaurant industry workers, to name a few." Altro Serenade offers sound insulation, which is important in multi-level construction and in hos- pitals. In seniors' facilities, Serenade can mitigate injuries suffered by falls. While Orchestra has the most colour choices, the line can also borrow tones from the Operetta and Serenade selections. "The OOS line comes out of our German facility," says Finnegan. "This product has a rapidly renew- able, bio-based sugar beets content that varies by range, but the Serenade product, for example, has over 14 percent. This is a locally sourced, locally available food product that can replace petroleum- based contents that are typical in flooring products. It is a good example of environmental sustainability and helps us with the performance characteristics we are trying to meet, and provides the environmental legacy and footprint that we want to leave behind." RigidWood Vinyl collection from Torlys Inc. Altro Orchestra from Altro Floors. Marmoleum Marbled from Forbo Flooring Systems.

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