This is the third installment of our three-part series about the relationship of Novalis Innovative Flooring and the environment–both indoors and outdoors.

Over the course of our look at Novalis Innovative Flooring and the environment, we have examined the company’s commitment and priorities, its record of accomplishment, its various certifications and its active memberships in organizations that promote green products. But perhaps the most important statement about Novalis quality can be evidenced by the compliance and transparency validated by respected by third-party organizations regarding the efficacy of its products.

Environmental compliance and transparency

From the beginning, Novalis has made sustainability a priority. Novalis produces healthy and environmentally responsible flooring and maintains the highest standards represented by the following:

FloorScore®

FloorScore tests and certifies all hard surface flooring and flooring adhesive products, ensuring they meet stringent indoor air quality emissions requirements. The program was developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RCFI) in conjunction with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) and has certified products since 2005. Because most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors (at home, work or school) indoor air quality is an important issue for architects, designers and purchasers of interior building products and materials. All Novalis floors are FloorScore Certified for low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds).

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD®)

This is a comprehensive, internationally harmonized report that documents the ways in which a product, throughout its lifecycle, affects the environment. The EPD is created in accordance with standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is verified in accordance with ISO 14025. According to EPD, “Having an EPD for a product does not imply that the declared product is environmentally superior to alternatives — it is simply a transparent declaration of the life-cycle environmental impact.” All Novalis products are third party verified for EPD by UL Environment.

The Health Production Declaration® (HPD)

The Health Production Declaration (HPD) is a report of the materials or ingredients content of a building product and the associated health effects. Through HPD, Novalis reports what makes up its product and any hazards of which consumers need to be made aware. The continuous improvement of the building industry’s performance through transparency, openness and innovation in the product supply chain is the commitment of HPD and Novalis.

Declare® Program

The International Living Future Institute created the Declare Program. Declare labeling is often compared to the nutritional labeling found on food packages and focuses on specifics important to commercial specifiers, such as product ingredients, percentage of recyclable content, and possible potential hazards, to name a few. Declare labeling is strictly voluntary and underscores the Novalis commitment to producing the highest quality and ecologically trustworthy LVT. To receive a Declare label, Novalis submits its product content data to the Living Building Council for review and disclosure.

LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for their projects. Novalis is FloorScore®, EPD®, and HPD® certified, allowing the use of Novalis flooring in architectural and design projects eligible to earn LEED credits.

Eco+® Phthalate Free Bio-Based Content

Phthalates (ortho-phthalates) are a family of chemical compounds primarily used to make PVC products flexible, such as footwear, hoses, medical devices and vinyl flooring. But now phthalates are considered by many to be potentially hazardous from repeated exposure through contact. Novalis pioneered the development and use of a bio-based plasticizer derived from soya bean oil as a phthalate alterative in our LVT. Novalis ceased using phthalates in July 11, 2014 and is Eco+ Phthalate Free. All of its products are made with 100% virgin vinyl and are 100% phthalates-free.

Recognition

GreenStep Asia Awards

GreenStep Asia Awards, a joint venture of Floor Covering Weekly and Domotex Asia, honors individuals and organizations working to advance sustainability in the floor covering industry through products and processes. Novalis Innovative Flooring has received four awards in the past three years: The 2014 “Green Process” award; the 2015 “Green Promotion” and “Green Pinnacle” awards; and the 2016 “Green Product Honorable Mention” for its patented Cork Vinyl Tile.

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