Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative flooring solutions, has unveiled its latest collection: Lino Materiale. This new linoleum product is not just a flooring material; it’s a testament to the company’s commitment to sustainability, circular design, and the rich heritage of its linoleum craftsmanship. By placing a spotlight on cork, a key component in the traditional linoleum recipe, Lino Materiale represents a bold reinterpretation of a classic, showcasing how heritage materials can be reimagined for a modern, eco-conscious world.
The Lino Materiale collection is a celebration of the linoleum recipe, which has a history spanning over 150 years. Linoleum is a unique material, cherished for its natural beauty, comfort, and durability. Its composition is an amalgamation of natural ingredients, including linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, and, critically, cork flour, all bound together and pressed onto a jute backing. Lino Materiale takes this traditional formula and innovates by making cork a visible and tactile feature of the final product. The integration of distinct cork flecks into the material’s surface highlights its organic nature and underscores the collection’s deep engagement with the principles of the circular economy. This innovative approach goes beyond aesthetics. Tarkett is actively “closing the loop” on production waste by using waste materials from other industries, such as cork from the wine and bottling industries in Sardinia and Portugal.
This process transforms what was once a byproduct into a valuable raw material, reducing the need for virgin resources and minimising environmental impact. The dedication to this circular model is a core tenet of Lino Materiale’s design, ensuring that the flooring is not only made from recycled content but is also designed to be fully recycled and reused in the next generation of flooring products. This is a critical step in creating a more sustainable future for the woodworking and manufacturing industries, where materials are kept in a continuous cycle of use and reuse.
A fusion of heritage and innovation
The production of Tarkett’s linoleum takes place in Narni, Italy, a location with a deep-rooted history in this specific craft since 1898. The company’s long-standing expertise in this field is evident in the quality and performance of Lino Materiale. The collection’s innovative texture is a departure from traditional linoleum designs. The sensorial finish brings a calming, restorative quality of nature into the built environment, offering a unique tactile experience underfoot. This design choice aligns with a growing trend in architecture and interior design to create spaces that promote well-being and a connection to the natural world.
The collection’s commitment to sustainability and innovative design has already earned it significant recognition. The project has been longlisted in the prestigious surface design category of the Dezeen Awards 2025, a global accolade that celebrates the most outstanding designs in architecture, interiors, and products. This recognition from a leading international design platform validates Tarkett’s strategic focus on marrying aesthetics with environmental responsibility.
The creation of Lino Materiale is not an isolated project but rather an extension of Tarkett’s broader sustainability and circular economy initiatives. The company’s commitment to eco-design is deeply embedded in its manufacturing processes. For instance, its 2.5 mm linoleum products are already verified as “carbon-negative from cradle to gate,” which includes the entire process from raw material extraction to production. This is achieved by using renewable and bio-based ingredients like linseed oil, which absorbs carbon dioxide during its growth, and by optimizing production processes at its facility.
Furthermore, Tarkett operates a dedicated “ReStart” take-back and recycling programme. This program is a vital part of its circular model, allowing the company to collect and recycle post-installation and even post-use linoleum flooring. The collected material is then processed into a powder that serves as a raw material for new products. This “closed-loop” system ensures that valuable resources are not discarded but are instead reintroduced into the manufacturing cycle, preventing waste and preserving natural resources.
Through showcasing cork, Lino Materiale also highlights the more general issue of ethical sourcing in the woodworking sector. Since cork oak trees’ bark can be obtained without requiring the tree to be felled, cork is an especially sustainable product. Recurring this process every nine to twelve years is good for the ecology and the health of the tree, giving it a great example of a renewable resource that promotes biodiversity.
Tarkett’s Lino Materiale collection is more than just a new product line. It’s a statement about the future of the woodworking and flooring industries. By celebrating the inherent sustainability of linoleum and creatively showcasing cork as a core component, Tarkett is leading the charge in demonstrating how design and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. The collection’s innovative texture and circular design principles offer architects, designers, and consumers a choice that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also a significant step towards a more sustainable and restorative built environment.
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