You may have heard the term VOC, which stands for volatile organic compounds. At concentrated levels, VOCs are known to have short and long-term effects on health. Formaldehyde, which exists at trace levels in all organic material, is classified as a VOC. Unfortunately, most hardwood flooring brands utilize manufacturing processes that increase formaldehyde levels in each plank. Therefore, when their flooring is combined with any other items in your home in which formaldehyde naturally exists, the overall VOC concentration in your home goes up. LIFECORE Flooring's innovative, ZERO-ADD® technology allows them to produce flooring that has among the lowest levels of formaldehyde on the market, without affecting the performance or durability of our product. This technology means that our hardwood contains no added formaldehyde components. Zero. That means you take home flooring that has VOC safety levels well below even the strictest CARB (California Air Resource Board) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations.