Sustainability

What is sustainability?

'Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.'

This definition derives form the Brundtland Report published by the UN World Commission on Environment and Development (1987).

The report alerted the world to the urgency of making progress toward economic development that could be sustained without depleting natural resources or harming the environment.

But sustainable development is much more than a pure environmental topic and can therefore not be reduced to ecological aspects only.

In fact, sustainability means adjustment and balance of

environmental,
economic and
social

targets, even under conditions of global responsibility and precaution to future generations.

Armstrong– Sustainability is a question of credibility

Alongside the manufacture of Armstrong DLW Linoleum as a product consisting mainly of natural raw materials, such as linseed oil sourced from flax, natural resin, cork, wood flour, limestone and jute, we are providing an exceptional response to today‘s demands for environmentally friendly floor coverings.

For Armstrong this involves the obligation to use all the raw materials needed for production – water, air and energy – sparingly and consciously. Numerous certificates and awards confirm the environmental benefits and bacterial resistance of Armstrong DLW Linoleum as well as its inherent non-toxic properties.

Life Cycle Assessments – reliable and independent sources

According to the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process, or activity. All energy and materials used were identified as well as wastes, which were released to the environment. Opportunities to affect environmental improvements were evaluated and implemented.

LCAs assess and analyze the environmental impact starting from the acquisition of raw material to waste disposal, throughout the whole life cycle of linoleum. The results of all these studies are consistent with our companies philosophy and our eco friendly achievements in the whole linoleum life cycle.

LCA of Flooring Materials

Armstrong DLW linoleum is produced largely from renewable andsafe raw materials. In accordance with the eco auditdrawn up by myself, linoleum can be unreservedly recommendedfrom a sustainability point of view.

This statement applies particularly to linoleumPUR during its service life as its surface finish allows consumption of drinking water,electrical power and cleaning agents to be considerably reducedduring the time the linoleum is in use.

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Hegger, TU Darmstadt, Department of Architecture and Energy-efficient Building

Download LCA

The environmental impact of various floor coverings during their life cycles was assessed as a case study at the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

'Taking into account a qualitative assessment of environmentally hazardous substances in the life cycles of the flooring materials and the findings of the impact assessment, linoleum was assessed as preferable […].'

LCAs and their application to the construction industry

In this LCA the German Federal Environmental Agency releases a summary of all their R&D-activities

'Based on the energy consumption and the hereby wastage of fossil raw materials as well as the product life cycle analysis, products made of renewable raw materials are advantageous over those made of synthetic and ceramic.'

LCA on Resilient Floor coverings for ERFMI

The European Resilient Flooring Manufacture’s Institute (ERFMI) as a trade association consists of 17 members who initiated the LCA study. The responsibility to carry out the LCA was given to the Fraunhofer Institute in Munich who are widely experienced in the field of life cycle analysis.

Assessed was the life cycle environmental impact of a range of resilient floor coverings products. Armstrong DLW Linoleum received a fabulous achievement.