Green Talk®

Whole Body, Healthy Home, and Sustainable Garden Inspiration

  • About
    • Press
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • New Here?
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Hire Me
  • 5 Reasons to Subscribe!
  • Build Green
  • Gardening
  • Green Business
  • Green Living
  • Green Home
  • Recycling
  • Tech

Is Forbo’s Marmoleum Flooring Safe Enough to Eat?

February 7, 2009 By: Anna12 Comments

Christopher Moline , the Residential Group Manager of  Alexandria Carpet One, put his money where his mouth was.  He had heard that Forbo’s Marmoleum was so safe that you could eat it.   So, what did Chris do? You guessed it.  He ate a small piece of the flooring.  Check out the above  short video and his blog.

Marmoleum is made out of  linseed oil, rosins, wood flour, jute and ecologically responsible, organic pigments.  For more details as to what these particular ingredients are comprised of, see here.  According to the Company, Marmoleum has inherent anti-bactericidal and anti-static properties.

I think of Marmoleum as funky lineoleum with wonderful patterns and colors.  Believe me, it ain’t your grandma’s lineoleum.  Check out their photo gallery.  Forbo offers both Marmoleum and Marmoleum Click (floating floor.)

So, what did the flooring product taste like ? I emailed Chris, and he replied, “it tasted like cardboard.” And “he has a strong stomach.”  I gather this means that he felt fine after eating the floor. The better question to ask, is did he digest it?  (You know what I mean, right?)

Personally, I think Chris deserves a raise for his can do attitude  of selling the product. Do I hear “Fear Factor” contestant?

In any event, Marmoleum is an eco option that great for the environment , and apparently looks better than  it tastes!

Tip via my buddy, Mary Hunt at In Women We Trust.

Similar Posts:

  • Flooring Choices: My Durability, Cost, & Environmental Perpective
  • Vinyl Flooring Could Comes With a Health Price. Toxic Phthalates.
  • Twin Maples Show House’s Carriage House, Green at its Best
  • Radiant Electric Heat by Carbonic Heat: Thin, Efficient, and Infrared
  • Home Building Saga: If I Only Knew.

Grow From Seed Mini Course

Grow From Seed Mini Course

About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Comments

  1. 1

    Mike Allen says

    July 3, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Um, I thought it was your grandmothers linoleum, that’s kind of the point. It’s made the way that linoleum was originally made, until the 1970’s.

    Reply
    • 2

      Green Talk says

      July 3, 2009 at 10:13 pm

      Mike, I was not talking about how it is made in referring to Forbo not being your grandmother’s linoleum. I was talking about its design. Forbo has wonderful designs that would please many different tastes. Anna

      Reply
  2. 3

    Chris says

    September 16, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    Thanks for the PR!
    I love the product, but that’s the end of my floor-munching days.
    All the best,
    Chris

    Reply
  3. 4

    Natalie Office Chairs says

    November 3, 2009 at 5:55 am

    Now thats eating your cake well done to him, not many people would actually do that, not that I would be rush out to go eat my flooring.

    Reply
  4. 5

    Zane says

    July 22, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    Neat. Talk about a wild way to make a point! Fun…

    Reply
  5. 6

    Penelope says

    May 22, 2014 at 9:00 pm

    Hello! I am confused about Marmoleum. According to Forbo’s documentation, “The factory applied lacquer – Topshield 2 – is a waterborne UV cured urethane – acrylate hybrid dispersion.” Isn’t that a fancy way of saying it’s plastic? Also, some Marmoleum is backed with polyester, rather than jute. Isn’t that plastic as well? Does anyone know for sure whether that means Marmoleum does or does not contain VOC’s, BPA, flame retardants, and/or pthalates? I don’t understand how Forbo can claim that Marmoleum is biodegradable and non-toxic if it’s made with plastic?

    Reply
    • 7

      Linda says

      August 3, 2015 at 11:22 pm

      The topshield is dangerous. It is an isocyanate. The flooring is beautiful but when we enter the room our eyes swell up and we suffer respiratory distress. We installed it because we thought it would be safe and healthy. Why didn’t Forbe inform us of the danger of the topshield. It was so expensive. Now I have to have it removed. Buyer beware!

      Reply
      • 8

        L Stafford says

        March 13, 2016 at 12:45 pm

        Thank you so much for the information I did have my suspicions when I obtained some samples and they had a really strong smell. I was going to use marmoleum. now I don’t know what to do. Any suggestions anyone?

        Reply
        • 9

          Anna@Green Talk says

          March 15, 2016 at 10:38 am

          Did you call the company to ask how long the smell takes to dissipate. I wonder what causes the smell?

          Reply
          • 10

            Michael Adler says

            November 24, 2018 at 10:52 pm

            I just got some put in and was surprised by the odor. Of course, it is made from linseed oil (flax oil). Boiled linseed oil was long used for a wood preservative, and it’s pretty stinky. I’ve applied it to things in the past. I didn’t see anything about the smell of Forbo Marmoleum in the promotional materials, but now I’m wondering how long it will take to go away, since it’s kind of unpleasant. It’s been there for a couple weeks with the windows open, and it seems to be getting better. I just wonder how long.

  6. 11

    randy osbourne says

    September 18, 2019 at 10:22 pm

    Any followup on the Topshield being the cause of the odor in the Marmoleum Linoleum? They have the click/snap type now, I wonder if the product has changed, since I see many pleased customers

    Reply
  7. 12

    Jeff says

    October 8, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    Michael Adler

    Did you use the Marmoleum Click, which I’m now hearing has an odor coming from the bottom, or did you just use the Marmoleum modular tiles, which the glue could be the source of the smell?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Shop from Anna’s Farm– The Naked Botanical– Farm Fresh Teas, Salts & Body Products

The Naked Botanical Click HERE

Save Money By Growing Your Plants Indoors.

Three Must Have Equipment "

Grab My Free Mini Course

Connect with Me

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

  • Freeze Cucumbers & Learn How to Use Them.

  • Hydrogen Peroxide + Ears = Bye to Colds. A Remedy that Works

  • Orange Peel Vinegar Cleaner. Make Your Own Green Cleaner

  • 15 Ways to Recycle or Repurpose Your Underwear

Recent Posts

  • How to Grow Grains in a Small Garden
  • Proper Lighting to Grow Seeds Indoors.
  • Gone Vegan: And Loving My New Life
  • Sleep On Latex: A Healthier Mattress to Sleep Better
  • Eco-Friendly Multi-Use Yard Living. Eat and Enjoy.

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

RSS Green Talk TV

  • Hibiscus in the high tunnel and some discoveries I found.
  • Turmeric indoor sowing time!
  • Short snippet of creating a rose hydrosol
  • Elderberry, more uses than just for health
  • The Naked Botanical's Gift Boxes

Copyright Green Talk © 2025 · Website Designed by Clever Kiwi