How Sustainable are Hardwood Maple Sports Floors?
Building communities on sustainable natural resources is an altruistic goal. The dangers of irresponsible resource overuse are indisputable. That’s why it’s essential to find a balance and avoid being wasteful. In this regard, it’s easy to understand that you can waste a natural resource like wood by overexploiting it without any future plans. But, there are a lot of misconceptions about hardwoods that turn off potential customers. This is especially the case when it comes to highly-valued resources, like hardwood maple timber. So, let’s talk about just how sustainable hardwood maple sports floors really are.
Are We Running Low on Hardwood Floors?
The World Wildlife Fund predicts that the demand for timber will triple by 2050. With such exponential growth in the market, many think there could be a shortage of hardwood. So, is hardwood flooring a dying industry? Fortunately, the reality of the situation isn’t so bleak.
In the US alone, there are currently 737 million acres of forests. This comprises a third of the entire nation. People often fail to realize that, with proper management and monitoring, it’s possible to maintain the existing forests and still have a fully functioning timber industry.
The Forest Resources of the United States, 2002 shows that the country grows six times more hardwoods than it harvests each year. Such sustainable practices have allowed a proliferation of hardwoods in every region of the United States.
There’s no reason to worry about hardwoods running out. With responsible harvest and use, the timber market, including the hardwood flooring industry, can stay fully sustainable in the future.
What Makes Hardwood Maple Sports Floors Sustainable
Aside from their aesthetic appeal, hardwood floors are a sustainable option for people who prioritize environmental responsibility. If you’re wondering if hardwood maple sports floors are the right solution for your facility, knowing more about them will help you make an informed decision. Let’s take a look at the most significant reasons why hardwood maple sports floors are the most sustainable choice.
Sustainable Harvesting
Wood is renewable, recyclable, and doesn’t require any energy expenses to grow. With proper rules and regulations, harvesting trees has a minimal effect on the environment. Government legislation has been established to control the amount of wood that can be harvested and the harvesting timeline. For every cubic foot of cut down trees, 1.66 cubic feet should be replanted. This rate allows enough time for hardwood trees to mature and grow.
Maintainable Manufacturing
The manufacturing process for most flooring products often leaves a lot of waste and left-over materials. But the waste produced by installing synthetic materials is often worse. Hardwood growth isn’t as resource-demanding as products that require a lot of chemical treatment. Moreover, the amount of waste left over from manufacturing hardwood floorboards is minimal. That’s because almost everything left, from wood chips to sawdust, is used to produce other natural composite products.
Environmentally Friendly
Over the past couple of decades, the demand for environmentally-friendly solutions has continuously been on the rise. Because they’re carbon-neutral, hardwood floors have a minimal environmental impact. Since hardwood sports floors are hypoallergenic, the contamination from mold, dust, and other allergens is minimal. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hardwood flooring improves overall indoor air quality. And good air quality reduces volatile organic compounds, which can have long-term and short-term health consequences for facility users.
Long-lasting Lifecycle
Hardwood maple floors are a more expensive investment initially, but they can save you a lot of money in the long run. If properly maintained and cared for, they can last for a lifetime. Comparatively, synthetic flooring products usually only last for a couple of decades. What’s more, hardwood is less likely to show wear and tear as quickly as synthetic flooring materials. But to maximize hardwood flooring’s longevity, you should screen and recoat your hardwood floors every year. You should also sand down and refinish them when they start to wear out.
Sustainable Hardwood Forests: What They Mean for the Future
Hardwood forests are a renewable natural resource. When supported with adequate planning and management of foresting services, hardwood trees naturally renew. Proper forestry in regards to hardwoods includes selective harvesting and not clearcutting. Selective harvesting is a process in which hardwood trees, such as maple, are individually marked and selectively cut down.
Such practices support sustainability, as removing older trees frees up space for younger trees to grow and benefit from increased sunlight. In addition, there are many other benefits of selective harvesting. One of the most important advantages is that selective harvesting helps reduce greenhouse gasses. Young hardwood trees are more efficient at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than mature trees.
Learn More about Sustainable Hardwood Floors
As an unrivaled full-service sports flooring company on the East Coast, J&J Gym Floors is committed to sustainable and environmentally-friendly flooring products. With more than 17,400 projects completed since 2003, we understand the importance of promoting sustainable and long-term sports floors.
If you want to install a sustainable hardwood maple sports floor in your facility, we’ve got you covered! At J&J Gym Floors, we fully support sustainable forestry management and high-quality hardwood floors. Whether you want to find out more about this topic or are looking for a reliable sports flooring partner, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly customer representatives. Call us today at (973) 801-7219 or fill out our short online form. We’ll get back to you without delay.
