Environment

At enoak we believe in environmental intelligence.

We are aware of the importance of treating our forests with respect, and that is why our partners have signed and fully endorse the worldwide and independent PEFC-program. This program guarantees that their wood comes from certified sustainably managed forests. This means that we are all able to enjoy the environmental, social and economical benefits that forestry has to offer. When you step barefoot onto your oak wood floors, when you run your hands across our furniture, you will feel that contact with nature, and the spirit of the forest.

Concerning the VOC  (Volatile Organic Compound), enoak flooring is graded in the highest and safest level of   A+ and A

With Enoak flooring you can be stylish and creative, and know that your conscience is clear.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

The FSC is a global certification system that enables specifiers to identify and purchase wood from well-managed forests. It defines ten principles of responsible forest management for a manager or owner to follow. As a benchmark, any FSC standard has to be ‘interpreted’ at the national level in order for it to be implemented within local forests.

Similarly, PEFC describes itself as an international organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management (SFM) through independent third party certification. However, PEFC is not a standards agency but a mutual recognition scheme. It not only focuses on the ethical aspects of SFM but also the processing of timber, resulting in a larger emphasis on the supply chain than FSC.

While both are committed to the same cause, the primary difference between the certifications is their origins. Initially, the FSC scheme was developed for tropical environments and not suited for forests in Europe and North America. This led to the introduction of PEFC in the late 1990s, to facilitate SFM certification in Europe. PEFC now accounts for over 264 million hectares of certified forests and its certifications system is recognised in over 30 countries. Meanwhile, FSC has certified forests in over 80 countries with 7% of the world’s forest area (180 million hectares) carrying the FSC certification. ( kinley.co.uk/ published 2016)

Our suppliers are members of the PEFC program.

It’s the abbreviation of Volatile Organic Compound.

VOC (Volatile organic compounds) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. Their high vapour pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air, a trait known as volatility.

VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both human-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. Most scents or odors are of VOCs. VOCs play an important role in communication between plants, and messages from plants to animals.

Some VOCs are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment. Anthropogenic VOCs are regulated by law, especially indoors, where concentrations are the highest. Harmful VOCs typically are not acutely toxic, but have compounding long-term health effects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, research into VOCs and their effects is difficult.

The EPA describes Volatile Organic Compounds as chemicals that evaporate at room temperature which are emitted by a wide array of products used in homes–– including paints and lacquers, paint strippers, varnishes, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, pesticides, building materials and even furnishings. VOCs are released from products into the home both during use and while stored.

Common examples of VOCs that may be present in our daily lives are: benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene.

Your floor is the largest surface of your house, and it is the one surface that we are always in contact with. Especially in the case of children, babies and pets, they are often very close to the floor, so it can be very important that your floor is free of VOCs.