There are many great reasons to choose laminate flooring, including the affordability, easy installation, low maintenance, and fantastic aesthetics. Quality materials can last for decades too. However, sadly it isn’t typically the best choice in terms of sustainability. The majority goes into incinerators or to landfill because it is tricky to recycle. That could change in the future though. Let’s have a closer look, then you can rely on us if you want to discuss laminating services with an expert.
The issue
On the surface laminate seems like it should be recyclable. After-all, it’s generally just an MDF or HDF core with additional decorative, wear, and balancing layers. The cores, making up 85% of the product or more, should be safe to recycle.
Unfortunately, the problem is it can be very difficult to disassemble the laminate flooring. Often resins are used to bond the layers together. It’s therefore hard to remove the decorative, wear, and balancing layers from the core. It’s also impossible to filter the glues during recycling. This compromises the potential recyclability and sustainability.
A solution
Unilin, one of the global leaders in laminate manufacturing, has been working to improve this for years. The goal is to make laminate flooring a product that is viable in a circular economy. Speak to us about laminating services if you need them.
Interestingly, Unilin developed a steam explosion technique for laminate flooring. The thermo-mechanical process breaks down the bonds, allowing extraction of the wood fibres in the core. Critically, this does not significantly affect the fibres’ quality. Therefore, they can be reused without a dip in performance. It could help to lower the consumption of virgin wood. More importantly, the recycling process is more energy efficient than producing more virgin fibres.
What to do with your flooring?
If you’re removing laminate from rooms in your property, it’s a good idea to think about what you will do with it. The first idea is probably to throw it into a skip or take it to a household waste or recycling facility. However, it’s a good idea to consult the manufacturer to see if they offer recycling services. Councils may also offer services so they can ensure waste is disposed of correctly.
Speak to us about laminating services
Lamination is a fantastic option for different applications. Critically, it can protect materials and improve the aesthetics. This can massively boost the lifecycle of different substrates, including MDF and HDF.
If you’re thinking about laminating services, you can rely on us. We’ve got access to a massive range of laminates for various needs. This includes a variety of thicknesses and finishes. We even have experience applying them to a number of substrates, particularly sheet materials.
So, get in touch today if you have questions or want to arrange anything.