Report Says Refinished Floors Can Reduce Carbon Footprint

MALMO, Sweden, June 11, 2020-A new report from IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute says refinishing hardwood and resilient floors is more sustainable for the environment than replacing the flooring surfaces.

The report, released Tuesday and conducted with input from Malmö, Sweden-based Bona, a hardwood floor treatment company, states there’s a 78% carbon footprint reduction when refinishing rather than replacing wood floors, adding that refinishing resilient floor surfaces can also offer up to 92% reduction in carbon footprint versus replacing. Every year, nearly 270 million square feet of hardwood and resilient flooring is replaced in Swedish public and commercial buildings, according to a news release.

The study was conducted over 12 months, focusing on the Swedish flooring market and the national construction industry.

The full report is available here.