Epic hardwood, the engineered hardwood brand from Shaw, has received the Cradle to Cradle™ Silver Certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). MBDC is a third-party product and design firm founded by architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart.

MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle certification process looks at a number of factors that contribute to a product’s suitability, such as the use of environmentally safe and healthy materials, design for recycling, water and energy efficiency, and social responsibility.

Shaw says it is the first flooring manufacturer to earn C2C certification on hardwood flooring products.

Veneers used in Epic are obtained from North American managed forests deemed sustainable by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and all styles are in compliance with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements. All Epic products also comply with the recently revised Lacey Act, the United States' national wildlife protection statute that has been amended to make it a criminal offense to import illegally logged timber products into the U.S.

“We’ve known since we introduced Epic that we had a special product, and we’re proud to have achieved C2C Certification from MBDC,” says Scott Sandlin, vice president of business development for Shaw’s Hard Surfaces division. “As more and more consumers ask for environmentally friendly products, Epic hardwood styles have become increasingly important.”