Elegance in home design doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. With eco-friendly flooring options available, you can add beauty to your home with a minimal impact on the planet.
Cork, for instance, is a climate positive floor that is harvested without harming the tree. And hardwood floors that are sourced domestically reduce the carbon footprint of transportation compared to those imported from other continents.
Recycled Materials
Choosing eco-friendly materials for your flooring has a number of benefits. For one, it reduces the need to extract new materials from the earth, which protects natural habitats and ecosystems. It also cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing new products. Finally, it reduces the amount of waste material that ends up in landfills.
Fortunately, many traditional flooring materials have eco-friendly alternatives. For example, cork and bamboo are both derived from renewable plants and can be harvested without damaging them. In addition, they require less energy to produce than wood floors and their binders, adhesives, and sealants.
Other sustainable options include recycled linoleum and carpet tiles. Recycled linoleum is made from oxidized linseed oil and pine resin, while carpet tiles can be made from recycled PET bottles – diverting around 600ml drink bottle worth of waste each year from landfill. Repurposed wood from deconstructed buildings or barns is another popular choice for eco-friendly flooring. It offers a unique rustic aesthetic that’s sure to impress, and it helps reduce the demand for newly-harvested timber. However, epoxy flooring is more durable than any of the mentioned options so you might want to consider the pros and cons of each.
As you shop for eco-friendly floors, it’s important to consider how much foot traffic they’ll receive and how often they’ll need to be replaced. It’s also wise to take into account any potential environmental impacts, including the embodied energy of the floor, its transportation and installation.
When shopping for eco-friendly hardwood, look for certified sustainability certification labels from reputable organizations, such as the Forest Stewardship Council. This ensures that your wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests and not from illegally logged trees. Also, look for wood that’s locally sourced as this can cut down on transportation emissions and carbon footprint.
Low-VOC Materials
Choosing sustainable flooring options that are free from dangerous chemicals like VOCs is essential to protect yourself, your family and the environment. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, which are released into the air by artificial paints and varnishes, resulting in poor indoor air quality and even serious health issues. The chemicals in these products are toxic to humans and can contribute to a host of respiratory concerns, such as asthma and bronchitis. In addition, prolonged exposure can also lead to cancer.
When choosing a sustainable floor, it is important to look at the materials used in the manufacturing process. Not only should you seek out eco-friendly floor cleaners that are free of harmful chemicals, but you should also choose a product that uses sustainable wood and has ethical production practices. The best way to do this is by purchasing a wood floor that is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). This certification assures that the hardwood was harvested from forests that were responsibly managed, with minimal impact on habitat and wildlife.
The other important factor to consider when choosing a sustainable flooring option is to find one that is low in VOCs, as well. This is because synthetic materials used in flooring and furniture typically release high levels of VOCs into the air, especially when they are exposed to sunlight. These VOCs can cause a range of health issues, including headaches and nausea, and may also irritate the eyes.
When looking for a sustainable flooring option that is both low in VOCs and non-toxic, it is helpful to remember that there are plenty of great options available on the market. Vinyl plank flooring, which is a popular choice for bathrooms and kitchens, can be made to be both low in VOCs and non-toxic by selecting an option that is FloorScore and CARB2 compliant. Likewise, laminate can be made to be low in VOCs by selecting an option that is produced using phenol formaldehyde instead of urea formaldehyde.
Recycled Wood
Reclaimed wood is a popular option for sustainable flooring. Not only is it stylish, but it also helps to reduce environmental impact by decreasing demand for new wood materials and preserving existing forests. Reclaimed wood comes from a variety of sources, including old barns, warehouses and railroad trestles. It’s sourced from old trees that were harvested 100 to 300 years ago, which makes them much more durable and dense than modern hardwoods.
It’s important to find a reputable supplier to ensure the integrity of your reclaimed wood flooring. The best suppliers will have a process for categorizing the wood, and they’ll kiln-dry it to kill bugs and control moisture levels. This ensures that your reclaimed wood will look consistent and uniform throughout the room.
Wood floors are an eco-friendly choice because they’re a renewable material that can be recycled again and again. When wood is recycled into other materials, it can be used to make new floors or even as a thermal energy source. Reclaimed wood can also be used to build other structures, such as houses and furniture. It’s also biodegradable and reduces the amount of waste in landfills.
When it comes to reclaimed wood flooring, the most common types are pine and oak. However, many builders are starting to use other types of reclaimed wood, such as mahogany and cherry. Reclaimed wood is also a great choice for stairways, trim and molding because it adds visual interest to the space. It’s a beautiful way to show your personal style and create a unique design that will last for generations. Reclaimed wood floors are a good alternative to synthetic materials, such as vinyl and laminate, which use plastics that release harmful VOCs during manufacturing and for up to 5 years afterward.
Domestic Tree Plantations
If you’re looking for the most eco-friendly flooring possible, look no further than wood floors made from trees that are grown in your home country. These options have lower carbon footprints than imported materials because they don’t need to be transported as far distances.
One of the most popular options is bamboo, which comes from a grass species that can be harvested every three to five years and easily regrows afterward. This is significantly shorter than the harvest cycle for many hardwood trees, which can take upwards of 20 years. Bamboo is also a lighter material than hardwoods, which means it has a smaller environmental impact when shipped. However, you’ll want to make sure that the bamboo used for your floors comes from a sustainable plantation and has been certified as such by an independent organization.
Another great choice for eco-friendly floors is oak. Oak trees grow in abundance throughout US forests and are harvested in a way that doesn’t harm the forest canopy. Additionally, oak floors are incredibly long-lasting and have a positive carbon balance thanks to the tree’s natural regenerative properties.
If you want the look of hardwood but aren’t ready for solid wood, engineered (composite) floors are a great option. These floors are typically made from a solid wood veneer over a plywood core, so they use less of the solid hardwood, which reduces waste. They’re also usually glued with low-VOC glues that don’t produce VOCs when they’re used in your home.
Lastly, you can also choose floors made from fast-growing wood species like cypress and pine, which are more eco-friendly than most hardwoods. These floors are easy to install and can be refinished or recycled at the end of their lifespans. When shopping for these floors, look for them to be glued with low-VOC glues and to have FloorScore certification, which guarantees that they won’t produce any VOCs during installation, use, or disposal.
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood is an excellent choice for sustainable flooring because it utilizes a material that already exists. Its environmental benefits include reducing the need for new lumber, decreasing landfill waste and lessening use of environmentally hazardous materials. Wood reclaimed from old barns, storage crates and industrial sites can be used to create durable and unique flooring that adds character to a home.
Because reclaimed lumber has been exposed to changes in humidity over time, it is more dimensionally stable than wood that’s freshly harvested. This characteristic helps it better withstand the stresses of high traffic areas and prevents warping over time.
The reusing of wood also reduces the need for additional lumber to be milled from fresh trees, helping to slow down deforestation and save land for natural habitat. It is often milled using a solution that produces fewer VOCs and other harmful toxins, making it an excellent choice for LEED certification.
The process of creating reclaimed wood flooring includes inspecting and assessing the quality of the lumber, stripping it of nails and other metals, and milling it into boards to make them ready for installation. Because of this, reclaimed wood can cost up to twice as much as other types of flooring. However, choosing a company with a strong focus on customer service, milling expertise and a quality program will ensure that the product performs well in your home and is free of any toxins or defects. One downside to reclaimed wood is its tonal variation that can make it difficult to match it with furniture and other home furnishings. Fortunately, this can be offset by choosing a floor with a neutral finish.