European eco labels for wood flooring

Abstract

Due to its multiannual use and large surface on which it is placed, wood flooring has an exceptional impact on the health of people who spend time in the rooms in which it is placed. Because of this, materials containing cancerous and mutagenic substances or agents which have high emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC emissions) during their use must not be used for flooring production. In order to prove that wood flooring does not have a harmful effect on the environment or human health during the use, adequate eco certifications have been created in previous decades. In Europe, the following eco certifications are mostly used for this product type: Nordic Swan, German Blue Angel and Natureplus, Austrian UZ and EU eco certification.