Article Number: 4114
Mohawk’s wood divisions cut their ‘CARBs’
DALLAS—Mohawk Industries’ three wood divisions—Mohawk, Columbia Flooring and Century Flooring—have each been certified from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for their engineered wood flooring products. CARB is a division of the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is responsible for improving air quality in the state by establishing limits for air contaminants.
Beyond being certified, each earned both the board’s Phase 1 and the more stringent Phase 2 requirements, and, according Dewevai Buchanan, vice president of hardwood flooring for Mohawk’s Unilin Flooring business unit, they appear to be the first in the industry to achieve both levels of certification from the government agency.
What makes this achievement more notable, he added, is that companies do not technically have to meet CARB’s Phase 2 criteria until Jan. 1, 2010, which is the mandated deadline for full compliance. “By earning Phase 2 certification already, these brands have positioned themselves as industry leaders by becoming Phase 2 compliant almost one year before the agency’s deadline,” Buchanan noted.
All products from the three divisions that are manufactured after the first of this year are fully compliant. However, he noted, CARB regulations allow for an 18-month sell-through provision period to deplete any non-compliant finished goods inventory produced prior to Jan. 1.
“Distributors and retailers carrying Mohawk, Columbia and Century engineered hardwood products will have full confidence they are offering their customers flooring that meets strict formaldehyde emissions standards that many other brands do not meet, especially imported products,” Buchanan explained.
In achieving the certifications, he credited Mohawk’s use of the patented PureBond formaldehyde-free engineered flooring technology. PureBond is a new innovation replacing the traditionally used urea formaldehyde in hardwood plywood construction.
While California is currently the only state to formally adopt such stringent formaldehyde emissions standards, Buchanan said several other states and the federal EPA are considering similar measures as well. By achieving both Phase 1 and 2 compliance, “these brands are better prepared for any new regulations that may take effect nationwide.”
For more information about Mohawk and its hardwood brands, visit mohawkind.com. To learn more about the CARB, visit carbrule.org.
Beyond being certified, each earned both the board’s Phase 1 and the more stringent Phase 2 requirements, and, according Dewevai Buchanan, vice president of hardwood flooring for Mohawk’s Unilin Flooring business unit, they appear to be the first in the industry to achieve both levels of certification from the government agency.
What makes this achievement more notable, he added, is that companies do not technically have to meet CARB’s Phase 2 criteria until Jan. 1, 2010, which is the mandated deadline for full compliance. “By earning Phase 2 certification already, these brands have positioned themselves as industry leaders by becoming Phase 2 compliant almost one year before the agency’s deadline,” Buchanan noted.
All products from the three divisions that are manufactured after the first of this year are fully compliant. However, he noted, CARB regulations allow for an 18-month sell-through provision period to deplete any non-compliant finished goods inventory produced prior to Jan. 1.
“Distributors and retailers carrying Mohawk, Columbia and Century engineered hardwood products will have full confidence they are offering their customers flooring that meets strict formaldehyde emissions standards that many other brands do not meet, especially imported products,” Buchanan explained.
In achieving the certifications, he credited Mohawk’s use of the patented PureBond formaldehyde-free engineered flooring technology. PureBond is a new innovation replacing the traditionally used urea formaldehyde in hardwood plywood construction.
While California is currently the only state to formally adopt such stringent formaldehyde emissions standards, Buchanan said several other states and the federal EPA are considering similar measures as well. By achieving both Phase 1 and 2 compliance, “these brands are better prepared for any new regulations that may take effect nationwide.”
For more information about Mohawk and its hardwood brands, visit mohawkind.com. To learn more about the CARB, visit carbrule.org.
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