Greenwashing is a new term being used to describe the false claim that a product is green. For a product to truly be green, it must be environmentally friendly through its entire lifecycle.

Keep the following in mind when a salesman claims the product is “green.”

• Is the product made from renewable/recyclable resources? (Wood floors are made from tress, a very renewable resource.)
• How long will this product last in comparison to the materials used to make it? (Wood floors last 100 years on average and it only takes 40-60 years for a tree to mature.)
• Was the product manufactured with the environment in mind? (Making wood floors uses less energy and water than other flooring types.)
• What happens to the product once it's reached the end of its lifecycle? (Wood floors can be recycled or used for fuel.)

Wood floors have been used as an example, to learn more about the ecological benefits of wood floors visit the National Wood Flooring Association.