Page 104 - CFJ_Feb26

SECTOR FOCUS FLOORING IN EDUCATION

myself, with Marmoleum one of my go-to in the Mossa, Flamma, Bla and Rosa again specified Forbo flooring.
solutions for this exact reason. It’s made colourways. Kenton commented: ‘I really Kenton concluded: ‘This was an
using up to 98% natural raw materials like Forbo’s Tessera carpet tiles as they’re enjoyable project to work on – I wanted
and contains 43% recycled content by robust and durable, with the Tessera to give the students a space they felt
mass. Not only this, but it's independently Struktur 1 range available in a range of was their own and had some element of
certified as Climate Positive (carbon complimentary colours to the Marmoleum personality and culture. I came up with the
negative) from cradle to gate, without I’d specified. Given the application, I knew narrative for the space quite early on and
offsetting, meaning every square metre of I needed a hard-wearing solution and this SOAS agreed with my vision.
Marmoleum installed removes 663 grams range being a microtuft pile tile made it ‘I’ve used Forbo for years now and have
of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. ideal.’ no hesitation in recommending them for
Additionally, the Marmoleum Cocoa The space was officially handed over other projects; the products are tried and
solution contains cocoa husks, upcycled to the school in September 2023, with tested and have stood up well when I last
from the chocolate industry – a further positive feedback from the Students Union visited the building. Forbo do a great job
environmental saving.’ and student body themselves. In fact, the of keeping its colour offering up to date,
Forbo’s Tessera Struktur 1 carpet University and SOAS were so impressed something which proved very useful for
tile collection was also installed on the by the work they commissioned Kenton this project.’ 
project, used across the office spaces for further refurbishments, where he www.forbo.com

Junckers manufactures
its own floors rather than
buy from a wholesaler

Choosing sports and activity floors for schools: The new design rules

UNCKERS describes itself as the UK’s largely applied Passivhaus principles to all must adhere to the specification
Jleading supplier of solid hardwood their new-build schools. requirement and provide materials,
floors to the education sector with a long Built to support healthy and innovative including flooring, that will keep the
history of manufacturing long-lasting, safe, learning and at the same time minimise embodied carbon figure as low as possible.
high performing and sustainable flooring energy consumption and emissions, the The DfE’s objective is to build sustainable
systems. In the past 10 years, the company reduction in the school’s energy costs can schools with the lowest possible whole
says it’s supplied flooring to over 800 be as much as 70%. life carbon in line with the UK’s net zero
schools, colleges, and universities in the Since the introduction of maximum objectives.
UK. 600kg CO2e/sq m allowed per school, Biogenic content
For any new schools being built in Junckers has provided its sports floors, Another key measure introduced by the DfE
England, a new maximum allowable and sometimes solid wood flooring for is a requirement to measure the biogenic
embodied carbon measurement is now other parts of the school, to 90 % of all new content of each building – the carbon
applicable, an initiative that has been in schools built. sequestered in natural materials like wood.
place for several years in Scotland. A new standard Timber is one of the few building materials
In 2019, the Scottish Futures Trust, which At the end of 2025, the Department for that actually removes carbon from the
grants funding for new schools, introduced Education is following suit by introducing atmosphere and locks it away.
a figure for maximum allowable embodied a maximum allowable embodied carbon of Once it’s used in a product like flooring,
carbon of 600kg CO2e/sq m for any new 550kg/CO2e/sq m for 200 new schools to the carbon stays stored for the lifetime
school buildings. Since then, Scotland has be built in the next five years. Contractors of the building. This is the reason the 

104 CFJ February 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
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