--- title: "Fake news #1: Is all vinyl flooring environmentally responsible?" description: Check out our series of debunked fake news stories circulating the flooring industry. And here's how to tell when the content you are reading has little integrity and honesty to it. Here we discuss if all vinyl flooring is ‘green’ or environmentally responsible. image: https://info.polysales.com/hubfs/Fake%20News%20Green%20(1)-013246-edited.jpg --- [![Polysales_Logo_FullColour](https://info.polysales.com/hubfs/Polysales_Logo_FullColour.png)](https://www.polysales.com/) - [WHY VINYL](https://www.polysales.com/why-vinyl/) - PRODUCTS - [PRODUCTS](https://www.polysales.com/flooring-products/) - [ROLLING REGULARS](https://www.polysales.com/rolling-regulars/) - [SOLUTIONS](https://www.polysales.com/flooring-solutions/) - [PROJECTS](https://www.polysales.com/featured-projects/) - [NEWS](https://info.polyflor.co.za/news) - [MEET THE TEAM](https://www.polysales.com/about-us/) [CONTACT](https://www.polysales.com/contact-us/) Sustainability # Fake news #1: Is all vinyl flooring environmentally responsible? Check out our series of debunked fake news stories circulating the flooring industry. And here's how to tell when the content you are reading has little integrity and honesty to it. Here we discuss if all vinyl flooring is ‘green’ or environmentally responsible. [Tandy Coleman](https://info.polysales.com/news/author/tandy-coleman) Oct 30, 2018 ---   Did you know that a tweet with an untruth in it is 70% more likely to get retweeted than a truthful tweet?  Unfortunately, fake news, carefully re-positioned or omitted facts and lopsided views are dominating many industries, and flooring isn't exempt from this. Check out our series of debunked fake news stories circulating the flooring industry.  And here's how to tell when the content you are reading has little integrity and honesty to it. ## **![Fake News Green (1)](https://info.polysales.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fake%20News%20Green%20(1).jpg?width=5000&name=Fake%20News%20Green%20(1).jpg)** ## **FAKE #1: All vinyl flooring is ‘green’ or environmentally responsible** Whilst many vinyl flooring (and other PVC product) manufacturers have worked extremely hard to create environmentally responsible and sustainable products, this is not the case for all vinyl flooring on the market.  Make sure to check the environmental credentials of the product on offer very carefully. Some questions to consider asking the manufacturer to answer, and provide evidence of: 1. Does the flooring contain responsible and sustainable additives including (but not limited to) stabilisers, plasticisers, pigments and Bisphenol A as per the [SAVA product-stewardship agreement?](https://www.savinyls.co.za/pages/6-product-stewardship-commitment-psc) 2. What Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emission standards does the product comply with?  Good standards include: 3. Is the product [REACH](https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/understanding-reach) compliant in terms of harmful substances being added (i.e. does it contain no formaldehyde, lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium or any other ‘harmful to man’ substances?) 4. Is the floor a well-researched and tested product that complies with international ISO 14001 standards?  Can the manufacturer provide proof of this? 5. Is the adhesive being used to lay the flooring environmentally sound? There are various environmentally friendly adhesives available in South Africa.  The [Green Building Council of South Africa](https://gbcsa.org.za/) (GBCSA) has devised a formula to determine whether an adhesive is environmentally friendly, based on whether the adhesive contains VOCs.  A base line of 5% VOC content Is the maximum permissible to be considered "green". Most adhesives used in the flooring industry incorporate a 'tackifier resin' component.  Typically, organic solvents such as toluene or methylene chloride are needed to liquify the resin before blending. Many manufacturers have reduced their solvent content to comply with this 5% rule, but the reality is that the 5% is still released into the atmosphere as the adhesive dries.  Be aware of this ploy and choose your adhesives carefully. This is why international adhesive manufacturers, including Polyflor SA's preferred suppliers, have removed the solvent component to become totally VOC free and reduce their impact on ecology and the environment. Over and  above the five questions listed above, manufacturers of well-researched, documented environmentally sustainable vinyl floors should be able to provide you with: 1. A cradle to grave analysis of their product  2. [A Triple Bottom Line analysis of how their product affects planet, people and profit](https://info.polyflor.co.za/news/floor-covering-environmentally-sustainable) For a detailed analysis of the sustainability of vinyl flooring, download our e-Book – [Vinyl flooring Sustainability](https://info.polyflor.co.za/vinyl-flooring-sustainability) --- **For more insights like these [sign up for Polyflor Insights](https://info.polyflor.co.za/subscribe-to-polyflor-insights) and we will send useful tips and advice straight to your inbox.[![Subscribe to Insights](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2749413/e7712934-740c-4d10-82f8-a02ea9e02435.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2749413/e7712934-740c-4d10-82f8-a02ea9e02435)** [Sustainability](https://info.polysales.com/news/topic/sustainability) ## Similar posts News ### [When passion meets purpose](https://info.polysales.com/news/when-passion-meets-purpose) Tandy Coleman, Polyflor CEO, recently spoke at the Online Flooring Expo, hosted by Flooring Africa, and discussed not only why vinyl flooring plays a... Tandy Coleman May 18, 2020 Technical know-how ### [How to mitigate flooring installation risks](https://info.polysales.com/news/how-to-mitigate-flooring-installation-risks) Flooring installation methods can have extremely specific demands. The best way to mitigate these risks is to partner with a specialist. Find out how... Polyflor Technical Team Mar 9, 2021 Ask Denver ### [9 Vinyl Flooring ins and outs \[VIDEO\]](https://info.polysales.com/news/what-every-contractor-needs-to-know-about-screed-preparation-for-a-vinyl-flooring-covering) Vinyl flooring installations require a very specific preparation and installation technique. Here are seven recommendations for screed preparation... Denver Coleman Apr 3, 2018 ### Get insights and trade secrets from our team of experts, straight to your inbox. 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