The Rise of PVC-Free Floor Coverings in The Commercial Flooring Industry

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride is a unique polymer that has unrivaled attributes in terms of its resilience, lightweight properties, and resistance to deterioration. These characteristics, and a lower cost versus other materials, have made PVC a mainstay in the work of building products for many years. The world of commercial floor covering is no exception.

Polyvinyl chloride contains ortho phthalates that are used as plasticizers to make vinyl flooring more flexible and durable. However, these phthalates are known to migrate from the vinyl materials and can be considered unhealthy in certain environments. Developers of vinyl-based products have discovered an alternative material which has the exact same durability and flexibility without the migration and health concerns assigned to PVC products. These are known as tera phthalates.

Tera phthalates are organic rather than plastic-based and can be used as a direct substitute to traditional plasticizers, which can be beneficial in commercial spaces where designers and end users alike want to avoid any risk of plasticizer migration. Many commercial flooring brands have debuted new PVC-free products within the last year, which is consistent with corporate initiatives to acheive carbon neutrality and reduce the impact that all plastic products have on the environment.

For example, Mannington released their Proxy collection this year, which features wood patterned LVT that is PVC free. And, Shaw launched their Pivot collection which features wood patterned LVT, along with the Innate & In Tandem collections that offer flexible sheet and LVT in PVC free options.

Shaw Pivot

Mannington Proxy

PVC-free commercial flooring is on the rise and is something we will be seeing much more of in the coming years. This is consistent with the commercial flooring industry’s focus on optimal sustainability across the industry.

Have no fear. Traditional PVC-based products such as LVT and VCT are still safe to install, as traditional products are designed to emit low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). The flooring industry is always looking ahead to improve products along with incorporating sustainability and healthier options. We look forward to seeing what new innovations in flooring will be introduced in the years to come.