The boom in eco-friendly products has reached nearly every branch of the economy, from children’s toys to home improvement and interior décor. Homes are being produced on general “green” guidelines. Cars are being built on more environmentally sound guidelines. Virtually any product has a green counterpart somewhere. In flooring, there are several obvious choices for the green consumer, including cork, bamboo, and any product endorsed by the FSC. It is not any of these that we focus on here today, though its environmental benefits are significantly of note. Of course, Lyptus Flooring is what I refer to.
As the name implies, Lyptus is made from a Eucalyptus tree – two, actually. Lyptus woods are produced from a hybrid species of tree resulting from the natural conjoining of Eucalyptus Grandis and Eucalyptus Arophylla. As far as sustainable forests go, the plantations that Lyptus is harvested from are relatively unique. Located in Brazil, these plantations demote the clearing of old-growth forests. The plantations are entirely sustainable, and play off of Lyptus’ natural ability to reproduce independently. Saplings will normally sprout straight from the stump of the tree fallen.
A great advantage to Lyptus’ environmental standpoint is the time it takes to produce a growth of forest. Lyptus trees mature in about fifteen years – a full 45 years shorter than most other hardwood trees. A customer might think then, that this is a softer, less durable option for flooring. In fact, Lyptus’ Janka rating is 1550 – almost three hundred points higher than Red Oak, the benchmark hardwood used in referencing hardness.
Lyptus refers to the hybrid species used for hardwood flooring, but it also refers to Weyerhauser’s brand name for the line of Lyptus products. At the moment, Weyerhauser’s Lyptus line offers both engineered and solid hardwood flooring, in addition to lumber, plywood, and veneer. Since Aracruz Produtos de Madeira – a subsidiary of Aracruz Celulose – bred the hybrid species, they own the rights to it, as well as several plantations for its sustainable growth in Brazil. Aracruz abides by its own environmental standpoints, and is not FSC certified.
It is undeniable, however, that Lyptus is indeed a solid choice for green flooring, with much respect given to our global ecosystem.
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