1. Marmoleum Vinyl’s Green comeback By Nate Thayer

2. What is it?  Marmoleum is a new version of Linoleum also known as vinyl. Made by Forbo a Swiss company specializing in flooring and adhesives.  Marmoleum flooring, comes in planks (12” x 36”) and tiles (12”x 12”)  Marmoleum is made up of five natural products.

3. What makes a name like Marmoleum Natural?  Its Ingredients  Linseed Oil is the main ingredient in Marmoleum.  Linseed oil is produced by pressing seeds from the flax plant.  The flax plant is easy to cultivate and highly renewable. Can be an organic process depending on the manufacturer. Forbo claims its process is organic.

4.  Pine resins are mixed with the linseed oil to produce a flexible binder.  The pine trees from which the resins are extracted exist in abundance throughout the world.  A product that increases the demand for natural products like trees and flowers, is a renewable one. And one that enables multiuse of raw materials.

5.  Wood flour is obtained through controlled forestry, including the planting of special forests, in European countries.  constantly renewable  No tropical hardwoods are ever used, in Marmoleum  Wood flour can also be made from by-products of waste wood used in other applications.

6.  Pigments are used to give the Marmoleum is color.  Hundred of color options exist.  Natural pigments are used  No heavy metals

7.  The backing used for Marmoleum is made from spun yarn of strong Jute fiber, grown primarily in India and Bangladesh.  Jute is plentiful and highly renewable.  But be aware of how the Jute is harvested and worker’s rights.

8. Natural benefits of Marmoleum  Bactericidal Properties - Micro-organisms The bactericidal properties of linoleum prevent micro-organisms including Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus Aureus from multiplying themselves.  People who suffer from allergies can feel comfortable with Marmoleum due to its antistatic properties. Unlike a carpet Marmoleum will not trap dust so clean up is easy and less labor intensive.  Linseed does dive off a slight natural odor that might effect people who are highly sensitive to chemicals.  Marmoleum will not off-gas any harmful chemicals into the surrounding area and contains no VOC’s.

9. Production to Installation  Marmoleum is durable and safe, from the person walking on it to the person installing it.  Installation can be done with solvent free adhesives, or Marmoleum has an adhesive free option.  Marmoleum click, is legos for adults. Different types of moldings can be fitting to Marmoleum click.

10. Questions?

11. Sources  http://www.themarmoleumstore.com/Default.aspx?Men uId=902 http://www.themarmoleumstore.com/Default.aspx?Men uId=902 http://www.themarmoleumstore.com/Default.aspx?Men uId=902  http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/includes/showObj ect.cfm?independentPage=showInContext&objectID=2 46&objectType=Product&defaultLocation=SiteModel_p ublic,164,/dbc/methods/Product/display/productDisplay _basic_related_m1.cfm http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/includes/showObj ect.cfm?independentPage=showInContext&objectID=2 46&objectType=Product&defaultLocation=SiteModel_p ublic,164,/dbc/methods/Product/display/productDisplay _basic_related_m1.cfm http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/includes/showObj ect.cfm?independentPage=showInContext&objectID=2 46&objectType=Product&defaultLocation=SiteModel_p ublic,164,/dbc/methods/Product/display/productDisplay _basic_related_m1.cfm  http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/utility/showArticle/ ?objectID=367  http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/shop.mv?C atCode=PRODUCT&ProdCode=MARM_CLICK http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/shop.mv?C atCode=PRODUCT&ProdCode=MARM_CLICK http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/shop.mv?C atCode=PRODUCT&ProdCode=MARM_CLICK  Academic Search Premier  Lexus Nexus