Is laminate flooring environmentally friendly?
A. Since laminate is not made from hardwood, it doesn’t involve the harvesting of old growth forests and is often made with recycled materials. That said, laminate is less friendly to the environment than hardwood. This is due to the core fibreboard with which it is constructed, which is made from sawdust bound with resins. High-grade laminates often contain low VOC (volatile organic compounds) resins but cheaper, lower grade laminates from Asia may contain formaldehyde. These resins can off gas depending on the thickness of the material’s core. Also, laminate flooring unlike hardwood, can’t be recycled at the end of its life.
