Are Stuga floors non-toxic?

Featured: Happy Hour flooring in home of Chasing Paper founder, Elizabeth Rees. Photo by Anna Spaller.

In short, yes, our products meet the most stringent European standards and are the most certified wood floors in the world. The long answer is that nontoxic is—shockingly—not a regulated or measurable term. Any company can make a nontoxic claim for their products. Meanwhile, what is nontoxic for some could be toxic for others and what we believe to be nontoxic today could later be determined to be toxic for humans.

Unlike other brands, nontoxic isn’t a buzzword for us. Our floors were invented in 1941 and undergo rigorous yearly 3rd-party testing. Breathe easy knowing that your Stuga floor will be one of the safest materials in your home.

When shopping for hardwood flooring, you're not just choosing a style or color — you're making a decision that can impact your health and indoor air quality. Flooring is one material in your home that spans every room. You touch it every day. That’s why it’s especially important to consider whether the product you choose is truly safe.

Common Toxins in Flooring

• VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): Chemicals that vaporize into the air and can cause respiratory issues, headaches, and other health concerns. Our floors are held to strict European standards for environmental responsibility and indoor air quality.

• Formaldehyde: Commonly found in adhesives and composite wood products; it is a known human carcinogen. None of our floors contain added formaldehyde. Our products contain only trace, naturally occurring amounts. In fact, there is more formaldehyde in one apple than in 2000 sq. ft. of Stuga flooring!

• Solvent-based finishes: These can emit strong fumes and contain chemicals harmful to humans and pets. Our acrylic finishes have been solvent-free since 1984.

Considerations When Choosing Hardwood Flooring

Certifications

• Look for floors with multiple certifications and reliable 3rd-party testing. Our manufacturers rigorously test our products year after year.

Prefinished flooring

• Floors that are prefinished have emissions that are stabilized before they even enter your home, unlike floors that are finished on-site. All of our floors are prefinished. 

Sustainability

• Our main Swedish factory is a world-renowned climate-positive flooring factory, meaning it produces more energy than it consumes. Workers are paid a real living wage and all wood waste is recycled into biofuel, used to reheat the factory and homes in the village of Nybro, Sweden.

• Forests are not only majestic; they can teach us so much about how to create a happy, healthy future by building systems that can truly sustain us. This is why our floors are crafted in a way that treats forests with deep respect, supporting long-term ecological balance through responsible forestry.

• Many of our floors carry an FSC® certification.

Featured: Shell floors with corresponding Flush Nosings

Why It Matters

Choosing non-toxic flooring is especially important if:

• You have children or pets who spend a lot of time on the floor.

• Someone in your household has asthma, allergies, or chemical sensitivities.

• You live in a hot or cold climate and spend several months of the year indoors with the house sealed up.

• You're looking to improve overall indoor air quality and long-term wellness.

Choosing less toxic materials isn’t just a trend — it’s a healthier, smarter choice for your home and your family. By paying attention to certifications, materials, and finishes, you can create a living environment that not only looks beautiful but also supports your well-being.

----

Index:

• CARB2 compliant flooring, which includes engineered hardwood, must have formaldehyde emissions below 0.05 ppm (parts per million).

• E1 is a European standard (EN 13986), it stipulates that formaldehyde emissions must not exceed 0.124 mg/m³ (or 0.1 ppm).

• EN717-1 is a European Standard that specifies a chamber method for determining formaldehyde emissions from wood-based panels, it stipulates that formaldehyde emissions must not exceed 0.124 mg/m³ (or 0.1 ppm).

• Nordic Swan Ecolabel products must comply with tough requirements relating to chemicals that are harmful to environment and/or health, including a ban on phthalates, halogenated flame retardants, PFAS and identified and potential endocrine disruptors on up-to-date lists from EU and national authorities. It does not allow a specific amount of formaldehyde, instead it focuses on the presence and release of formaldehyde, considering it a hazardous substance.

• GREENGUARD Gold certification signifies extremely low chemical emissions, including formaldehyde, with a limit of 7.3 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.0073 ppm. 

• FloorScore® is the most recognized U.S. indoor air quality (IAQ) certification standards for hard surface flooring materials, adhesives, and underlayments, and is one of the easiest to obtain.