Facts About Linoleum

Linoleum flooring has a bad reputation, because it is often incorrectly referred to as vinyl flooring. While the two may resemble each other in appearance, their similarities stop there.

Linoleum is, in fact, one the oldest natural floorings of the modern era. Its green credentials stretch back to mid-nineteenth century England. The word “linoleum” comes from the Latin words linum (flax) and oleum (oil). It was widely used around the world until just after World War II, when less expensive, flexible vinyl flooring became popular.

Today, eco-conscious consumers are flooding the marketplace looking for green updates for their homes. Linoleum flooring’s constituents make it a green choice.

Natural, Raw Materials

• Linseed oil – pressed from flax seeds in combination with Tall Oil, which is a post-industrial fatty acid resin from the paper industry
• Rosin – which is tapped from pine trees and adds the strength and flexibility characteristic of linoleum
• Wood flour – helps to hold in color and adds smoothness to its texture
• Cork flour – taken from the bark of the cork tree and ground into a powder
• Limestone – abundant the world over, it too is finely ground
• Pigments – eco-friendly pigments used are free of heavy metals
• Jute – a naturally occurring plant whose fibers are spun into the backing

Why Choose Linoleum

Made with natural and renewable ingredients, linoleum is durable and can last up to 40 years. This reduces waste and the need to replace flooring. Linoleum is also biodegradable at the end of its life cycle, or it can be used as fuel, since it produces energy equivalent to coal and releases the same amount of carbon which its natural constituents absorb.