Are there PVC floors free of harmful substances?

Auf der Suche nach umweltfreundlichen Bodenbelägen fragen sich viele Menschen, ob es tatsächlich schadstofffreie PVC-Böden gibt. Wir haben die Antworten für Sie!

Finden Sie jetzt Händler in Ihrer Nähe, die unsere unbedenklichen CERAMIN® Bodenbeläge führen, um Ihrem Zuhause eine gesunde und umweltfreundliche Atmosphäre zu verleihen.

Entscheiden Sie sich noch heute für schadstofffreie CERAMIN® Bodenbeläge und gestalten Sie Ihr Zuhause mit einem Bewusstsein für Gesundheit und Umwelt. Mit unserer Händlersuche finden Sie ganz einfach die nächstgelegenen Verkaufsstellen, die unsere hochwertigen Bodenbeläge führen.

How do I find out what is in PVC flooring?

Manufacturers of PVC and vinyl flooring are not required to label the ingredients in their products. But there are ways to find out more about them: 

  • Consumers have a right to information on request. Retailers only have to name components that are on the list of substances of concern. These include harmful plasticizers from the phthalates group: DINP, DEHP, DBD and BBP. 
  • There are independent labels that certify health safety with regard to the ingredients. These include the "Blue Angel", the eco-INSTITUT label and that of natureplus e. V. They are also recommended by consumer advice centers.

Info:

"Scan4Chem" (iOS, Android) is a free app from the Federal Environment Agency. With it, one can scan the barcode of the selected product. Afterwards, the request for harmful ingredients is automatically sent to the corresponding retailer.

Can a PVC floor be free of harmful substances?

Even if we disregard pollutants, which only come into play during manufacture or disposal, this is not possible at present. Floor coverings made of PVC must be elastic - regardless of whether they are cut from a roll, as a plank or as a tile, and in what thickness. To achieve this, plasticizers are added to the PVC, essentially phthalates. The biggest problem is that these phthalates escape from PVC flooring from the outset and more and more over time, in gaseous or liquid form - aided also by direct contact with skin, sweat or saliva. 

For decades, numerous studies have documented the dangers posed by these plasticizers, especially in the form of a greatly increased risk of cancer. To cite just one example: A study published in 2022 by the Cancer Center at the University of Vermont describes, among other things, a twofold increased risk of lymph node cancer such as Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children, as well as a threefold increased risk of bone cancer. 

Environmentally compatible alternatives to phthalates

Research into biological plastics and biological plasticizers is in full swing. 

Plasticizers such as the most commonly used phthalates are produced on the basis of petroleum. For some years, however, research has also been conducted into plasticizers based, for example, on sugar, wood or waste streams from food production such as bran. This development has prospects in several respects. It stands for renewable raw materials, plasticizers that are harmless to health, and complete recycling without loss of quality.  

Wir beschreiten mit CERAMIN® noch einen anderen Weg. Unser Werkstoff ist nicht nur frei von Chlor und PVC, sondern kann auch gänzlich auf zugefügte Weichmacher verzichten. Es gibt andere Zusatzstoffe, um die Eigenschaften von CERAMIN® zu optimieren. Die sind jedoch gesundheitlich und ökologisch vollkommen unbedenklich. Das äußert sich auch darin, dass das Trägermaterial so zu 100 Prozent recycelbar ist. Und nicht zuletzt beziehen wir alle Rohstoffe aus Europa, sofern nicht direkt aus Deutschland. Damit entfällt jedes Risiko von Lieferschwierigkeiten und Verfügbarkeit.

Alternative flooring

Wer nicht so lange warten möchte, hat aber jetzt schon viele Möglichkeiten auf PVC-freie und ökologische Bodenbeläge zu setzen, deren Marktreife auch in den kommenden Jahren eine Anschaffung sinnvoll machen. Dazu zählen auch: Kork, Echtholz-Parkett, Linoleum, Fliesen und Echtholz-Paneele. 

Share Post

Posts that might also interest you:

Magazine

Barrier-free living: floor design for all situations in life

Barrier-free living means designing living spaces so that they are easily accessible and comfortable to use for everyone, regardless of age, physical limitations or mobility. This involves much more than just wider doors or threshold-free transitions. An often underestimated but crucial aspect is the floor covering. It plays a central role in safety, freedom of movement and quality of life. In this article, we show you what really matters when choosing and designing flooring in a barrier-free living environment – and how functionality, slip resistance and modern design can be harmoniously combined.

Read More »
Magazine

Remove or cover old floors – which is the better solution?

Whether you are renovating, redesigning or completely refurbishing, the key question with older floor coverings is often: does the old floor have to be removed, or can it simply be covered? Both solutions have different advantages and disadvantages and have a noticeable impact on effort, costs and sustainability. In this article, we show you what is important when making a decision – and what strengths modern design floor coverings such as CERAMIN® have to offer.

Read More »
Magazine

Sustainability in construction and renovation: 5 tips for conscious planning

Sustainable construction and renovation stand for environmentally friendly, resource-efficient and healthy living. More and more people want to create living spaces that function well in the long term and reduce their impact on the environment. These five tips will help you make informed decisions and integrate sustainability into every project, step by step.

Read More »