Formaldehyde-Free Flooring Types & Brands, A Complete List (Engineered, Laminate, LVP)

This is a complete list of all flooring types that have absolutely no formaldehyde, or have no added formaldehyde.

Some materials like wood contain naturally occurring formaldehyde in low levels, so for each flooring type I have made it clear if it contains no formaldehyde at all or no added formaldehyde resins.

I will also touch on the other toxins of concern in each flooring type.

If you want to see a complete list of flooring that is 0-VOC, see this article.

This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Luxury Vinyl Plank

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are both made without formaldehyde.

I don’t know of any brand that adds formaldehyde, though technically if it has a WPC core (wood plastic composite) and if that WPC contains real wood (they don’t all contain real wood), then the wood always contains naturally occurring formaldehyde.

Most cores are SPC, stone polymer composite, and are made with limestone, PVC/vinyl, and plasticizer. These do not contain any formaldehyde.

If it has a cork underlayment, that could contain a formaldehyde binder.

LVP and LVT are extremely low in off-gassing, some brands are 0-VOC, and are often used by highly sensitive folks, though they do contain the plasticizer dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) which has some question marks hanging over it in terms of health/safety (though so far seems safe).

Other concerns in luxury vinyl plank include metals and antimicrobials. The article on vinyl plank flooring goes into more detail.

Vinyl is also extremely hard on the environment.

2. Formaldehyde-Free Laminate

Laminate flooring is made of a wood fiberboard core and a melamine plastic top which contains a printed image of wood.

The fiberboard core was traditionally always made with formaldehyde, but now there are a few brands that use a formaldehyde-free adhesive.

Brands like Mohawk, Pergo, Kahrs, and Nexxacore do not use a formaldehyde binder.

Mohawk declares their total VOCs which are extremely extremely low (lower than any other flooring company has declared in my experience).

However, please note that wood fiber naturally contains formaldehyde in low amounts.

My article on laminate flooring goes into more detail.

3. Hardwood Flooring

Solid hardwood is one of the most practical all-natural flooring options, there are no added adhesives here, just keep in mind wood naturally contains formaldehyde.

The only additive that solid wood could contain anti-sap stain chemicals. Not all of these are harmful and some can be natural.

The prefinished options are almost always finished with an aluminum oxide UV-cured polyurethane coating; this does not off-gas.

Another non-toxic finish is to use natural oils, but keep in mind most of these off-gas natural aldehydes.

My article on non-toxic hardwood flooring goes into more detail.

4. Engineered Wood

Engineered wood has a real layer of wood on a substrate of fiberboard, plywood, or solid slat of wood.

My preferred types have a plywood or solid slat core. These have the lowest off-gassing and the least amount of glue.  

Brands that say they don’t add any formaldehyde-based glues include:

• Välinge engineered wood
• Lifecore engineered wood

Some brands claim to be 0-VOC, those are outlined here.

Most finishes on engineered wood have no off-gassing or close to it. Water-based UV-cured polyurethane (or polyacrylic) with aluminum oxide is 0-VOC or very close to zero VOC.

5. Hybrid Flooring

This could be considered a type of engineered wood but really it is in its own category.

Hybrid flooring has a real layer of wood on top, though a very thin one, and a SPC core. The SPC core is made from limestone, vinyl (PVC), and the plasticizer DOTP.

While the wood does contain formaldehyde naturally, there is so little wood here. If you want a flooring with a real wood top layer but the least amount of wood possible, this is the way to go.

There is no off-gassing from the SPC core generally.

Avoid underlayments that off-gas, like cork underlayments.

For brands, see my article on engineered wood.

6. Cork

Cork flooring is typically either made with a polyurethane glue and/or formaldehyde-based glue. However, there are a few brands that claim not to use formaldehyde:

Cork Go

This is a click-together cork flooring with a cork top layer, cork underlayment, and a high-density fiberboard (HDF) core. The majority of click-together cork is constructed this way, however, this one is different in its chemical composition.

The Cork Go line claims to not use polyurethane or formaldehyde glues in the product, including in the HDF layer. (This layer is typically made with formaldehyde glues. Plus the cork itself is usually made with polyurethane or formaldehyde glues). The finish on top is a factory-sealed UV-cured acrylic that is 0-VOC.

The installation is glue-less and you don’t need an underlayment over a wood subfloor.

The odor of Cork Go is mild.

Forna Tiles

Forna cork tiles from Cancork/icorkfloor claim to be 0-VOC and be made without formaldehyde.

Other lines by them claim they are low-VOC.

This cork tile is a glue-down tile that also needs to be sealed in-house. They recommend Loba 2K polyurethane to seal the top and Wakol D 3540 water-based 0-VOC contact cement to glue them down.

7. Polyurethane Flooring

Unlike vinyl sheet flooring which has a very strong off-gassing odor to me, bio-based polyurethane flooring has virtually no odor and no VOCs.

It comes in a solid waterproof sheet flooring, just like vinyl, or in glued-down planks.

The polyurethane is sourced from natural oils like castor oil plus minerals. They do not contain plasticizers (which are used in all vinyl/PVC flooring) or any other major chemicals of concern like formaldehyde.

One residential (non-commercial) brand is Wineo, their Purline Organic Flooring is great.

Another similar “safer plastic” option is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) flooring. UPO floors are made from minerals and the plastics TPE and polyolefin. Polyolefin in this case almost certainly means PE (polyethylene) and/or PP (polypropylene). They don’t use any plasticizer and there is no vinyl/PVC.

8. MARMOLEUM

Marmoleum, the only natural linoleum currently available for residential use in North America, is made from linseed oil, binders, wood flour, limestone, and dry pigments.

They are mixed and then calendared onto a backing.

Marmoleum has the Red-List Free label by The Living Building Challenge Declare Program which means it’s free of added formaldehyde.

However, please note that linseed can give off natural aldehydes, pine rosin also gives off natural VOCs including terpenes, and wood flour technically does contain natural formaldehyde (like all wood does). People sensitive to natural odorants may not do well with this type of linoleum.

There is a UV-cured synthetic sealer on top, this part does not off-gas.

The glue used to install it claims zero-VOC and does contain mildewcides (typically isothiazolinones).

There are Three Types of Marmoleum:

1. The roll-down flooring that is the most typical kind (the sheet) has a jute backing and is glue-down. You can use the sheets in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms if it’s properly installed.
2. The tiles (MCT) are also glue-down, they have a polyester backing (not jute, and not fiberglass as some websites say) and are slightly more rigid.
3. The “click” is the same sheet (roll down) material mounted onto a substrate of High-Density Fiberboard (HDF) and cork. The HDF is formaldehyde-free, though the binder is not disclosed. The click-together has the advantage of not needing glue for the installation.

9. Wool, Sisal, or 0-VOC Synthetic Carpet

Natural carpet

Wool carpet is a luxurious all-natural carpet that comes in many different shades and weave styles. The most natural options would be the undyed options, free of mothproofing chemicals.

Earth Weave wool carpet, contains no mothproofing and no other treatments. It does contain natural latex. I always prefer undyed wool for the very sensitive to chemicals.

Nature’s Carpet (wool carpet) dark green line does not have mothproofing and uses undyed wool. It does contain natural latex in the backing. The medium green line does not contain natural latex, but it does contain mothproofing.

Seagrass carpet is another totally natural option. I really like seagrass carpet because of how it feels underfoot. The DMI brand makes one I like that is not dyed or treated with insecticides or other chemicals. It does contain natural latex.

10. Stone

Real stone brings a beautiful warm texture to the home, it does not contain formaldehyde. It’s usually already treated with a synthetic resin and you have to think about which sealer will work with it before committing.

Marble tile is good in theory. Most of it has a resin put on it at the factory to fill in tiny holes and fissures, and it might have a synthetic sealant on it as well. The resin seems to cure out fully and be fine for most sensitive people though it’s not all-natural. 

A stone tile that does not have a glossy finish (i.e. is honed), and is not white or light grey, can be sealed with an all-natural walnut oil-based sealer (I tested them here). White or light grey stones will need a low-toxin synthetic sealer (I tested those here).

Keep in mind that white/light grey stone is the most difficult stone to seal in a non-toxic way, especially on the floor where some sealers will be slippery.

Slate is also good, you can find it unsealed. A resin is usually used to fill lines and pits. Slate can be sealed with all-natural walnut oil. Some types of slate and granite are dense enough to not require a sealer.

Other natural stones like limestone, travertine, and soapstone are great options for “green” healthy floors. You can check if a resin or sealer is already applied, and then check to see which natural sealers will work over the stone of your choosing.

11. Ceramic Tile

Ceramic/Porcelain tiles are based on natural clays. Ceramic tiles are made with red, brown, or white clay, while porcelain tiles are made of white clay, sand, and feldspar. Porcelain tiles are denser and absorb less water. (Source)

They do not contain formaldehyde, nor does the basic mortar and grout.

Unfortunately, they do still have a somewhat high incidence of lead in the glaze. See my testing results from 2021 and 2024. To pick up lower levels of lead, you need to hire someone who has a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) tool. 

12. Sintered Stone

Sintered stone is made from the natural raw materials found in glass, porcelain, and quartz, formed under extremely high heat and pressure.

There is no synthetic polyester resin and no off-gassing from sintered stone.

This is similar to porcelain tiles (and is also referred to as porcelain at times) but it’s much denser and with no glaze. It can resemble stone better than tiles can.

It’s installed just like tile with cement-based non-toxic mortar and grout.

Brands include Dekton and Neolith.

13. Concrete

Polished concrete floors are non-toxic and on-trend.

The concrete itself is a natural product (though there can be synthetic admixtures).

The diamond grind technique uses a benign “liquid glass” – sodium silicate, or potassium silicate.

You could leave it without a synthetic topcoat though that is not going to leave it very durable.

Usually, a polyurethane top coat is applied and those can off-gas quite quickly, though while they are not totally natural they are usually formaldehyde-free.

One finish that is completely natural is Tung oil, this is a little unusual to use over concrete and if water is drying up from below (which is quite common) it can ruin it. But I’ve also seen this done well.

You can do acid stains, add natural pigments like those from Davis Colors, use white cement, or add white sand to Portland Cement to get many different unique and modern looks.

More info on topcoats, stains, and pigments in my post on concrete sealers.

Concrete Tiles

Concrete tiles are traditional Moroccan tiles. Now you can see these same designs in a ceramic or porcelain tile which is more practical.

I used concrete tiles from Morocco in my tiny house bathroom and I sealed them with AFM Penetrating Water Stop.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.

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