Because people spend more than 90% of their lives indoors, the quality of the indoor environment is critical. We aim to make a positive contribution by supplying products that are safe and non-hazardous and by keeping our TVOC levels well within the required standards. For example, all our vinyl is phthalate-free. And our loose-lay varieties do not require any glue (which also emits during the initial installation phase). All our products are well within the norms set for indoor emissions.
FAQ - Product development and design
Here, you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the development and design of our flooring products and circular flooring solutions. If you don't find what you're looking for, please don't hesitate to reach out to our customer service team for further assistance.
What is Forbo Flooring’s vision or future target regarding indoor air quality?
Do you offer a PVC-free alternative for vinyl?
We do not offer a PVC-free vinyl, such as a polyolefin or a PUR-like alternative. We are not using so-called bio-based plasticizers since we do not feel that palm or castor oil is a suitable environmental alternative. Many of the alternative vinyl solutions for PVC result in products that are difficult to recycle in the end. Linoleum is our best alternative to vinyl when PVC free is required.
Where can I find information on the VOC content and VOC emissions per product?
Most recent emission test reports per product (group) can be requested via our online contact form.
Why do you use bitumen as a backing for carpet tiles (such as Tessera)?
All of our products conform with the REACH prohibited substances list, and they all pass their essential emission tests in accordance with European and North American standards. At Forbo Flooring, we use modified bitumen. This is not the traditional "tar" version, but one of higher quality and with less environmental impact. We make our carpet tiles out of bitumen because it is the most common material used in the European market. This is also where we locate our production and where the bulk of our carpet tile products are sold.
Do you issue formaldehyde declarations?
This information is stated in our Declaration of Performance (DOP) documents, which are mandatory for the CE marking of our products according to EN 14041. These documents can be found in the download centre on our website.