LSI Flooring refreshes Unsquashable cushion line

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.—LSI Flooring refreshed its Unsquashable High Density Polyurethane Padding line. The update includes enhanced performance, new sustainability certifications and expanded specification options for commercial construction and hospitality environments.

The updated line now carries UL GREENGUARD Gold Indoor Air Quality Certification and CRI Green Label Plus certification. The products also contribute toward multiple LEED credits tied to sustainability and indoor environmental quality goals.

Commercial products upgraded

LSI updated its two flagship contract cushions as part of the refresh.

LSI 300 returned to its original 12-pound density. The company engineered the product for heavy commercial and hospitality use. It now features more competitive contract pricing and a light gray color for easier field identification.

LSI 101 maintains its 16-pound density and targets extreme heavy-duty installations. The product is designed for areas exposed to rolling cart traffic, including hospitality corridors, convention spaces and healthcare environments. The cushion also now features a light gray color and premium positioning.

LSI said both products demonstrate stronger tensile strength and resilience than competing cushions. The company added that the products handle higher compression loads while maintaining lower smoke density ratings and Class I fire ratings.

Both LSI 101 and LSI 300 are used in conventional and double-stick commercial and hospitality installations worldwide.

Expanded certifications and warranties

The refreshed line also introduces antimicrobial protection across all products. LSI said the products are hypoallergenic and resistant to conditions that aggravate asthma or allergies.

The company also launched updated warranties across the Unsquashable line. LSI said the changes provide added confidence for contractors, specifiers and design professionals. Updated specification sheets and technical materials are now available.

LSI Flooring manufactures all Unsquashable products in the United States, with inventory stocked in Georgia. The company serves flooring contractors and installers, flooring retailers and buying groups, to-the-trade showrooms and flooring sundries distributors.

“These improvements further strengthen the performance advantage of Unsquashable padding products,” said Larry Lane, president of LSI Flooring. “Our goal is simple — deliver the strongest, most resilient carpet cushion in the industry while helping our customers grow their businesses.”

LSI Flooring also warned the industry about imitation products entering the market.

The company said only LSI Flooring’s Unsquashable Padding products come from the original Daltonian patented high-density polyurethane cushion. LSI encouraged retailers, installers, contractors and specifiers to verify the Unsquashable logo on all packaging and product materials.

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RFCI marks 50 years with new logo

Naples, Fla.—The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) unveiled a new brand logo during its 2026 Spring Meeting here. The redesign coincides with the association’s 50th anniversary.

RFCI introduced the logo to the largest gathering of members in the organization’s history. The previous design traced back to RFCI’s predecessor, the Resilient Tile Institute, which launched in 1929.

“Given our category’s bold and innovative leadership role in the flooring industry, we determined our logo did not accurately reflect today’s dynamic resilient flooring industry and needed changing,” said Bill Blackstock, president and CEO of RFCI. “Our 50th anniversary provided a perfect opportunity.”

Paul Friederichsen and the design team at Azul Arc led the rebranding effort. The updated logo focuses on a clean and simplified design approach. “Our trade audience knows and understands RFCI and the resilient flooring industry, so no reason to over complicate it,” Friederichsen said.

The new branding is designed to better reflect the modern resilient flooring category and RFCI’s evolving role within the industry. “RFCI has had a longer history than most realize,” Blackstock added. “This new logo and look will carry us forward to make new history in floor covering’s most exciting category.”

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Flooring Sustainability Summit announces 2026 keynote speakers

Washington, D.C.—The Flooring Sustainability Summit will return to here, July 14-16, here at The Mayflower Hotel. Organizers announced George Bandy Jr. and Cheryl S. Durst as keynote speakers for the event.

“This year’s Summit reflects the growing urgency for our industry to align around shared sustainability goals,” said Bill Griese, Summit chair. “We’re especially excited to welcome two dynamic keynote speakers whose perspectives span both global sustainability strategy and the transformative power of design.”

George Bandy Jr. will deliver the opening keynote. He is chief sustainability officer at Andersen Corporation. He brings more than 25 years of experience in environmental performance, circular economy strategy and responsible business practices.

Bandy previously held sustainability leadership roles at Amazon, Mohawk Industries and Interface. He also serves as vice chairman of the board of Green Business Certification Inc.

Durst will deliver the closing keynote. She is executive vice president and CEO of the International Interior Design Association. Durst is known for advancing the role of design in human experience and business performance. She serves on the International WELL Building Institute Governance Council. She also is a trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

Organizers said the keynote speakers will help shape conversations throughout the Summit. The sessions will focus on the future of sustainability and design across the industry.

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Emser Tile expands natural stone portfolio

Los Angeles, Calif.—Emser Tile reintroduced and expanded its natural stone tile portfolio. The lineup includes marble, limestone, travertine, granite and slate.

“Our natural stone collections are designed to give architects and designers both creative freedom and confidence in performance,” said Christina Wu, vice president, international operations and sourcing at Emser Tile. “Each piece is unique and authentic, which really translates into spaces that feel grounded and one of a kind.”

Broad material offering

The collection features a wide range of marble options. These include classic looks such as Averni, Bianco Gioia and Calacata. The line also includes more dramatic styles such as Lenza Fiore and Winter Frost.

The marble assortment offers polished and honed finishes. It also includes a variety of sizes and mosaics. These options support both feature walls and clean, minimal designs.

The limestone collection Metro delivers organic warmth. It works in both contemporary and traditional spaces. Travertine options include Fontane, Umbria Savera and Travertine Silver. These styles offer a classic European look.

Granite and slate options include Absolute Black, Rustic Gold and Multi Rajah. These materials provide durability and natural variation. They are well suited for high-traffic areas and outdoor spaces.

Design-forward applications

Design-focused collections include Flutique, Alluro, Bizou and Talento. These lines highlight natural stone in modern applications. They feature fluted wall tiles, parquet-inspired mosaics and groutless installations.

The Structure collection includes stone ledgers designed for fireplaces, statement walls and outdoor spaces. These products add depth and texture across a range of applications.

Emser Tile offers natural stone products in a wide range of colors, sizes and formats. The collections support residential interiors, commercial projects and large-scale architectural designs.

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Retailers React: To what extent do you use financing?

Every two weeks, FCNews seeks out flooring retailers across the country to offer their advice on hot topics of the day. This week, we asked: To what extent do you use financing?

Here are their responses:

“Financing is something we are working to improve on. Our leadership team sees the value in it and is currently exploring ways to increase financing across our sales.”

—Matt Wien

Marshall Flooring

Mayfield Heights, Ohio

“Financing naturally increases ticket size as homeowners are more likely to finance larger projects. Additionally, the best sales pros use financing to increase ticket size beyond what was originally planned or budgeted. It’s a powerful tool when presented properly. Let’s say a homeowner plans to be in her home for 15, 20 or more years; for only a few dollars more per month she can have the style she loves or the upgraded product that will last the longest. Everyone wins when financing is presented this way.”

—Adam Joss

The Vertical Connection Carpet One

Columbia, Md.

“I use financing as a tool to close sales when money is tight, but in my market the demographics are made up of retired professionals where money is not tight.”

—Bob Duke

Floor Magic

Damariscotta, Maine

“We very rarely use financing in our business. Very few of our customers take advantage of the financing offer. Probably 95% of our customers pay direct by check or credit card.”

—Mike Montgomery

Montgomery’s CarpetsPlus Colortile

Venice, Fla.

“When financing is available at special rates it allows an incentive to add to the project—both material and costs. Using someone else’s money is a no brainer and Synchrony offers amazing interest rates for the retailer as well as incentives to utilize their services. Everyone wins: the customer receives what she really wants; the retailer makes the sale and, hopefully, a customer for life.”

—Cathy Buchanan

Independent Carpet One Floor & Home

Westland, Mich.

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MSI launches Valgrande tile collection

Orange, Calif.—MSI introduced the Valgrande collection, a wood-look porcelain tile line that features TileTouch Surface Technology.

The collection combines high-definition printing with synchronized texture. MSI said the technology enhances realism by aligning visual detail with surface feel. The result is a wood-look tile designed to mimic the appearance and texture of hardwood.

“With the Valgrande Collection, we set out to redefine what’s possible in wood-look porcelain by aligning visual detail with authentic texture,” said Paulo Pereira, vice president at MSI. “TileTouch Surface Technology brings together precision graphics and synchronized texture to create a surface that looks and feels incredibly authentic, setting a new benchmark for the category.”

Valgrande offers a durable, waterproof flooring option. The collection features a 10 x 62 plank format. The size is designed to replicate the look of wide hardwood planks.

The line includes three colorways: Quercia features sandy blonde tones for a light, natural look; Sequoia offers mid-tone brown hues with warmth and character; and Clayborne delivers deeper wood tones for a more dramatic aesthetic.

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What sustainability looks like in flooring today

Recycled content. Biodegradable. Eco-friendly. Sustainability used to be defined by its buzzwords—pieces of a larger puzzle that had yet to take shape. There was a period of trial and error as those buzzwords got louder, during which manufacturers attempted sustainable practices. However, it wasn’t until it became clear that health and wellness wasn’t a fad that those attempts turned into real effort. And then the pandemic happened, and consumers doubled down on their focus for healthier, more sustainable lives.

Now sustainability is no longer a buzzword, but an objective built into business strategies across the industry. For flooring manufacturers today, sustainable practices begin long before a product reaches the showroom floor. Those suppliers are evaluating how materials move through facilities, how waste is reduced and how energy is used throughout production. Manufacturing efficiency has become closely tied to sustainability goals.

Supply chain visibility has also become a growing part of sustainability planning, particularly as manufacturers evaluate sourcing decisions, transportation efficiency and regional production capabilities. Domestic manufacturing investments have increased of late, providing shorter transportation routes and improved logistics—all of which are helping some suppliers reduce their environmental footprint.

At the same time, sustainability is reshaping how products themselves are designed and developed.

Engineered Floors

EF approaches sustainability through its “Green Smart” philosophy, prioritizing resource conservation, energy reduction and transparent reporting. Central to these efforts is the vertically integrated “Four Walls Process,” which consolidates manufacturing under one roof. Manufactured entirely within a Four Wall process from pellet to finished product, this localized approach ensures the company is not reliant on global supply chains or vulnerable to international disruptions.

To ensure accountability, material health and environmental impacts are strictly verified through independent certifications, including CRI Green Label Plus for low VOCs and third-party Life Cycle Assessments for Environmental Product Declarations. In an ongoing effort to mitigate its environmental footprint, EF is assessing the carbon impact of targeted product lines to establish emission offset plans.

Shaw

At Shaw, it calls its sustainability strategy sustain[HUMAN]ability, reflecting the company’s commitment to put people at the center of everything it does. This involves focusing wholeheartedly on the ingredients that go into products and the effects of sound, moisture, cleanability and other design considerations—because the spaces where we learn, create and come together to solve our greatest challenges impact well-being. And it means focusing on creating a better future and a better world for its customers, associates and communities.

Almost 90% of the products Shaw manufactures are Cradle to Cradle Certified—having been assessed for material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship and social fairness. No matter where or by whom a product or ingredient is made, they are held to the same sustainability standards.

IFC/Canopy

International Flooring Company approaches sustainability with a practical mindset centered on material innovation, operational responsibility and long-term product development. Sustainability must create real value for the end user through durability, performance and healthier material choices rather than existing as a marketing exercise. That means exploring bio-based feedstocks, recycled inputs and lower-VOC formulations without compromising product integrity.

Operationally, both IFC facilities generate solar energy and consistently produce more electricity than they consume, effectively operating at net-zero electricity.

NOX

As a global leader in LVT, NOX continues to strive for excellence. Last year, the company introduced NOX Level, raising the bar by setting new standards for the industry. This year, the bar was elevated even higher with the introduction of Terra, taking product, performance and sustainability to the NOX level.

Terra is NOX’s most eco-friendly LVT formulation, engineered to deliver one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry while maintaining best-in-class performance. What sets Terra apart is its use of certified carbon-reducing materials, including bio-circular PVC derived from waste cooking oil, recycled PET-based plasticizers and recycled limestone. All without sacrificing quality.

Inhaus

Sustainability is an important part of the Inhaus ethos, and it is something that it practices in every aspect of the business without compromising on the design, durability and performance of products.

Its laminate collections, Lamdura and Ecolam, are manufactured in the world’s most energy efficient single-site laminate production facility in Germany. The company’s sustainability efforts also extend to the materials it uses to craft products—like Ceramin, a 100% PVC-free material.

By combining circular manufacturing, cleaner materials and long-lasting design, the company proves that the future of flooring can be both high-performance and environmentally responsible.

Southwind

Southwind’s sustainability story is grounded in a simple belief: Better floors come from responsible choices at every stage—from raw materials to the finished product. Every floor that carries the Southwind name also undergoes rigorous quality control, whether produced domestically or overseas.

Southwind products also meet or exceed FloorScore certification standards, verifying low VOC emissions and supporting healthier indoor environments. In addition, all carpets meet Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus standards.

At Southwind, sustainability is not a single initiative—it’s a disciplined approach to quality, transparency and trust.

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