Aspen Flooring only imports Virgin vinyl.
Virgin vinyl is manufactured using safe plasticisers, as opposed to recycled vinyl which requires harmful plasticisers to soften it. These harmful plasticisers are later emitted from the floor as harmful gases (VOC’s).
So although recycled vinyl is cheaper and sounds like a good idea, it is actually best to make sure you are buying Virgin vinyl products when it comes to products used inside the home. See virgin vinyl Indoor Air Quality certification below.
POSITIVES OF VINYL FLOORING
- Long-term savings on electricity bills: a vinyl floor is warm underfoot and does away with the need for underfloor heating.
- Vinyl has a much longer lifespan than carpets: up to 25 years.
- Vinyl reduces allergies as it does not trap bacteria and dust like carpets do.
- No need to replace a vinyl floor if it gets flooded: vinyl is waterproof.
- Vinyl floors don’t need to be sealed or treated.
- Glue-down vinyl is only 3mm thick, so there is less product that needs to be disposed of at the end of its lifespan.
COMPLIANCE/ CERTIFICATION FOR VIRGIN VINYL
- Indoor air quality: ISO 16000-3, ISO 16000-6, ISO 16000-9. California Florscore certificate.
- Technical performance: EN 14041, EN 9239-1, EN 717-1, EN 13893.
- Environmental/ production: ISO 14001.
NEGATIVES
- Vinyl is not bio-degradable. It is also not commercially viable to recycle vinyl in South Africa.
- Vinyl is an imported product = carbon footprint on transport.