In an industry where few are welcomed onto the “green scene,” Alloc Flooring refuses to be swept under the rug. At first glance it might be difficult to discern that Alloc makes laminate floor planks. The products look just like real wood and stone. But it is easy to see that this company’s biggest goal is to leave a minimal footprint on the environment.
All of Alloc’s residential and commercial flooring products are made from HDF, or “high-density fiberboard.” When the floor planks are pressed together, they are topped with several sheets of paper. The top sheet displays a high definition image of one of the myriad wood-grain, stone or tile patterns that Alloc offers. When the floor is assembled, it looks like the real thing.
Customers can choose from over 50 styles and patterns that include oak, cherry, walnut, and maple wood patterns, or marble, slate, concrete and stone “tiled” planks. The planks are attractive and convincing, but it’s how the materials are found, used, and recycled that is at the top of Alloc’s agenda. Their goal is to make “products that can be used, recycled, and disposed of, without harm to human health or the environment.”
Alloc begins by collecting sawdust and shavings from existing logging operations and sawmills. Material that would otherwise be ignored goes right into making the HDF planks. In fact, the company states that each flooring plank contains 80% post-industrial waste. The HDF material itself is also made in a way that minimizes harmful contents in the glues and finishes, and the printed images are produced using purified, filtered, water-based inks.
For many years, the generally accepted process for applying a laminate-type plank floor was to use glue. But in the late 90s, Alloc developed a completely glueless system using an aluminum locking mechanism to secure each plank to its neighbor. Eliminating all the glue from a flooring installation takes many nasty chemicals out of the equation.
You can peruse the company’s website for more of their eco-conscious ideas, but it’s worth mentioning that Alloc has even made an effort to reduce the sound pollution created at its plant. By installing sound-proofing material in their manufacturing areas and creating a quieter work environment, Alloc shows that it values its people, too.
Alloc’s flooring innovations and environmental awareness are a reminder that having beautiful products inside your home or business needn’t leave ugly scars on the world outside.
