Environmentally Friendly Engineered Flooring Explained
Some wooden engineered flooring has been ‘FSC certified’, but what does this mean and why should you care? Read on to find out.
Recent research by the Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, revealed that half of all people in the UK now recognise the council’s logo of a tree with a tick, but that also means that 50 per cent do not yet understand that the product to which it is attached has been responsibly sourced.
The figure does show a marked increase of understanding compared to previous years, however, as 12 months before just 38 per cent of people recognised the symbol, whilst in 2007 the number stood at just 19 per cent.
This demonstrates a growing understanding of the importance of using sustainable and responsibly sourced materials, something which is backed up by further findings from the 2013 to 2014 FSC UK Annual Review. Once the function of the FSC had been explained, half of all the people surveyed said they were very likely or likely to look out for FSC certification before making a purchase and that they would be more inclined to choose these products over those without the FSC mark.
Certification Celebration
The FSC’s forest certificate scheme celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. It was started in 1994 in a bid to encourage the production and use of forest products, including paper and wood such as that used in engineered flooring, which has been sourced responsibly.
FSC in the UK
The UK’s FSC operates independently of FSC international and sets the standards for British forestry whilst also offering an advisory service. The council as a whole aims to promote forestry practices that are economically viable but are also appropriate to the environment and socially beneficial. The overall focus is to enable the forests of the world to meet the needs of the planet’s current inhabitants but to also ensure that they are still there for generations of the future to use and enjoy.
The FSC aims to promote the use of timber that is harvested without affecting the productivity, ecology and biodiversity of a forest and which benefits the local community, providing people with an incentive to look after the assets they have. There is also a focus on helping people to manage forests and their resources in a profitable way without impacting too heavily on the ecosystem, resources and local communities.
Flooring Village is a responsible stockist of FSC-certified engineered flooring. Why not browse through the range to find a product to keep your floors and the planet looking great?