Gerflor USA unveils product-specific EPDs

LEED v4 is here — and it’s changing how architects and designers consider and specify products. Specifically, environmental product declarations (EPDs) need a more critical eye than ever before. Gerflor USA, known for its high quality, high performing resilient commercial flooring, is making it easier with product-specific EPDs.

While most manufacturers continue to use industry EPDs, Gerflor is one of the first in commercial flooring to release product-specific EPDs for all of its product ranges, including: Mipolam, Taraflex, Taralay and Creation LVT. Product-specific EPDs will allow architects and designers to more quickly and efficiently earn a LEED v4 credit in the Materials & Resources category.

“Gerflor USA is committed to taking action to meet the most challenging requirements in terms of design, durability, easy installation, acoustics, comfort and sustainability,” said Catherine del Vecchio, director of marketing for Gerflor USA. “We took quick and decisive action to develop and publish an EPD for each of our product ranges, as product-specific EPDs provide more specific and detailed information about the product’s lifecycle.”

 

INDUSTRY EPD VS. PRODUCT-SPECIFIC EPD

Both industry EPDs and product-specific EPDs offer third-party verification. However, product-specific EPDs provide increased transparency and credibility by examining specific products rather than the average product by companies. As the new LEED v4 sustainability standard continues to take hold, product-specific EPDs will be increasingly important; specifiers must use 20 different permanently installed products from five different manufacturers. Industry EPD products are valued as half a product, while product-specific EPD products are valued as one whole product.

As the U.S. Green Building Council shifts to LEED v4, designers, architects and specifiers must shift too — to lifecycle thinking. EPDs summarize the data collected in the Life Cycle Analysis and serve as “cliff notes” for industry professionals.

All of Gerflor USA’s products are 100% recyclable, Reach compliant and FloorScore certified, meaning they have been independently third-party certified to comply with strict volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions criteria.

Setting an industry example is nothing new for Gerflor, as the company has been an industry pioneer and innovator for more than 80 years. Gerflor is the original manufacturer of homogeneous resilient sheet flooring (Mipolam, 1937) and resilient sports flooring (Taraflex, 1947).

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