What "PVC-free" tells you, and what it does not
PVC-free is a composition fact: the product contains no polyvinyl chloride, so it also avoids the plasticizers vinyl needs to stay flexible. It is not an emissions rating. For indoor air, look for an independent certification such as FloorScore or GREENGUARD Gold, which we list on each product where the manufacturer holds one. Our flooring certifications guide explains the difference.
Four ways floors get there without vinyl
Cork. Wicanders builds its floors from cork, the bark of the cork oak. WISE Cork Inspire and Wood Inspire use a PVC-free cork rigid core for wet rooms; Stone Natural adds stone looks; Cork Pure is a glue-down tile that Wicanders reports is 99% cork. Cork Essence and Cork GO are softer floating planks for dry rooms.
Linoleum. Forbo Marmoleum is made mainly from linseed oil, rosin and wood flour on jute. It comes as sheet, Modular tiles, and Cinch Loc Seal click panels.
Mineral core. COREtec Scratchless replaces the vinyl core with a high-density mineral core and is GREENGUARD Gold certified.
Plant-based and recycled cores. Mohawk PureTech reports 70% total recycled content and a core that is 80% renewable plant-based material. Kährs Aware is built from HDF made partly from recycled wood, natural and recycled fibers, and recycled cork.
Choosing by room
For kitchens, laundry rooms and basements, start with the floors rated for wet areas: WISE, Wood Inspire, Marmoleum Cinch Loc Seal, COREtec Scratchless and PureTech. Below-grade rooms from Silver Spring to Arlington also need a slab moisture test first; see basement flooring installation. For bedrooms and upper floors of older DC rowhouses, where footfall noise travels through the joists, the thicker cork floors are the quietest option we sell. Our WPC vs SPC vs PVC-free guide compares the cores side by side.
Common questions
Is PVC-free flooring waterproof?
Some of it is. WISE cork, Wood Inspire, Marmoleum Cinch Loc Seal, COREtec Scratchless and Mohawk PureTech are sold for wet areas. Cork Essence, Cork GO and glue-down cork tiles are meant for dry rooms. Each product page says which.
Is PVC-free flooring more expensive than vinyl plank?
It depends on the product. We quote material and installation separately so you can compare a PVC-free floor against vinyl for your actual rooms.
