The Red-List Free concept refers to the prevention of a series of toxic and harmful substances that is to both human, animal and natural environments. Red-List Free flooring means that floor covering products, such as hardwoods, carpets or other flooring materials, is free of chemicals and compounds on the Living Building Challenge’s Red List.
Living Building Challenge Red-List Materials
The Red-List has outline some of the most toxic materials to health and environments.
- Alkylphenols
- Antimicrobials (Marketed with a Health Claim)
- Asbestos Compounds
- Bisphenol A
- California-Banned Solvents
- Chlorinated polymers Including Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), Chloroprene (Neoprene Monomer), and CPVC
- Chlorobenzenes
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
- Formaldehyde
- Halogenated fire retardants (HFRs)
- Organotin Compounds
- Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) / Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)
- Phthalates (Orthophthalates)
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS)
- Short-Chain and Medium-ChainChlorinated paraffins
- Toxic Heavy Metals including Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium VI, Lead , and Mercury
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wet applied products
- Wood treatments containing creosote or pentachlorophenol
Toxic substances and compositions such as asbestos, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Formaldehyde, Halogenated fire retardants, phthalates, cadmium, chromium, and lead are some of the more frequent concerns associated with floor covering products. Whether its the formaldehydes found in high density fiberboard (HDF) for making laminate flooring, phthalates conventionally used for making vinyl floorings, PVC compositions which are currently the mainstream material for making luxury vinyl planks, or toxic heavy metals found in LVT products that are made from recycled PVC compositions. As a mean to reduce these toxicity and the risks it delivers to the environment, The Living Building Challenge was established in 2006 as a campaign to address these issues in building materials and construction industry.
Common known Red-List Free Flooring Products
- Hardwood Flooring
- Carpet tiles made from natural fibers, Polypropylene PP, or PET polymers
- Rubber Flooring
- Resilient flooring made from Linoleum
- LVT flooring made from Polypropylene PP
- LVT flooring made from Polyethylene Terephthalate PET
The Major Benefit of Red-List Free Flooring
A red-list free complied floor covering has the benefit of being more environmentally friendly. As major toxic substances are not being applied and used in the making of flooring products, it provide a safer flooring options for consumers and environments. The Red List Free approval offer absolute peace of mind for anyone looking to create a healthier, safer and more sustainable home.
Luxury Polypropylene Flooring – The next Red-List Free Flooring Options
As of currently, luxury resilient floorings such as LVP and SPC are still being made with PVC compositions. While many NGO associations and environmental activists are calling for better sustainability by phasing out applications of PVC in building materials, PVC still remain the core and most used material in resilient flooring manufacturing. Pioneer brands such as Ceramin, Shaw, and Mohawk all work with new material solutions to provide the next generation of LVT and SPC products that is made from non-vinyl materials. This is where luxury polypropylene flooring comes in. As an alternative solution for PVC flooring, polypropylene has the mechanical properties as well as environmental factors to make it ideal to replace PVC.