Many people choose wood flooring for their homes because it is a natural material originating from sustainable sources, unlike a lot other floor coverings. However, not everyone realises that some wood flooring products aren’t as eco-friendly as they seem.

To ensure you’re getting the greenest products available, look for manufacturers which have the following qualities (continued in part 2 of this guide):

1. Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). These are organisations dedicated to promoting the responsible management of the world’s forests. If a manufacturer has FSC or PEFC accreditation, it means that it meets the strictest standards in sourcing and making its products.

2. Chain-of-Custody certification. This is another quality that is verified and certified by the FSC or PEFC, and it relates to the processes and routes by which a product is sourced and made. It means that all rules are followed from forest to manufacture and distribution.

3. Products made in factories which implement environmental management systems. This means that factories work to green principles and practices, such as recycling waste products. For example, many products from the Kahrs, Tarkett and Ted Todd wood flooring range are made in factories where around half of the energy used comes from recycling sawdust for use as a biofuel.