LG Hausys' 'Z:IN Zea Maru Series' has been named the No. 1 Innovation Product at the '2018 Korea Inno-Star Awards' for the third consecutive year, while also being selected as the No. 1 Innovation Product at the '2018 Korea Green-Star Awards.'
The 'Zea Maru Series' selected this time is a premium line that applies a plant-based resin (PLA) derived from corn to the product surface. It consists of 'Zea Maru Wood,' which contains natural solid wood; 'Zea Maru Green Tea,' an engineered wood flooring optimized for Korea's ondol (underfloor heating) culture; and 'Zea Maru Real,' a highly durable laminate-reinforced wood flooring.
All three products have a formaldehyde emission level of 0.3 mg/L or less, meeting the highest SE0 (Super E0) grade and reducing concerns about sick building syndrome. Processed wood is classified by formaldehyde emission level into eco-friendliness grades ranging from the lowest, E2, up through E1, E0, and SE0. In Europe, Japan, and elsewhere, only grades of E0 or higher are recognized as eco-friendly materials and permitted for use in indoor furniture.
'Zea Maru Wood' is flooring that contains natural solid wood, made even healthier by adding green tea powder between the plywood and the veneer. It applies bevel coating to prevent contamination of the edge V-grooves and minimize moisture penetration, and the floor surface is brushed to emphasize the texture of natural wood, enhancing the design by evoking the elegance of real wood.
'Zea Maru Green Tea' is made of plywood, the same as laminate-reinforced flooring, but a thin layer of natural veneer is applied on top to maximize the feel of solid wood flooring. As an engineered wood flooring (ondol flooring), like 'Zea Maru Wood,' it adds green tea between the veneer and plywood to further enhance healthiness, and its excellent heat transfer also improves heating efficiency, making it well suited to Korea's ondol culture.
'Zea Maru Real' is the first laminate-reinforced wood flooring in Korea to apply a plant-based resin (PLA) derived from corn to the product surface. It uses a single-species plywood layer and enhanced durability, resulting in minimal deformation, warping, scratching, and denting, along with excellent heat transfer that improves heating efficiency. In particular, the surface layer of Zea Maru has obtained bio-based certification from the Korea Bio Material Packaging Association for 'use of biomass, reduction of carbon emissions, and reduction of ecosystem toxicity.'