Linoleum:
The All-Natural Flooring Alternative

Natural linoleum is widely promoted and specified in the green building community. As an all-natural alternative to resilient flooring made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC)—including sheet vinyl and VCT (vinyl composition tile)—linoleum has a lot going for it. Imports of linoleum are on the increase, with the product being used on projects ranging from the recently built Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis to the bathroom of our newly renovated EBN offices. But linoleum has some negatives as well, including higher cost than most sheet vinyl and relatively high rates of volatile organic compound (VOC) offgassing. This article will take a look at linoleum as a flooring material, examining the life-cycle issues relating to its production, use, and disposal, and describing available products.

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