If you’re replacing flooring in your home, consider the many eco-friendly flooring options. There is something for everyone’s stylistic and color preferences, and they benefit the planet. Check out sustainable alternatives to free yourself from flooring associated with high pollutants, chemicals, and carbon emissions.
1. Bamboo
Any options based on a renewable resource are already leagues ahead of environmentally intensive flooring choices, like concrete. Bamboo grows more rapidly than most plants, especially compared to hardwoods. Fortunately, it has a similar strength, so it will last a long time, no matter how much foot traffic or heavy furniture sits on top of it.
It is simple to find sustainably grown bamboo by looking for a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. The organization verifies resources grown in an ethically managed forest.
2. Cork
Harvesting cork is a unique process. It comes from cork oak trees, which take at least nine years to grow. It is slow, but collecting cork is noninvasive and doesn’t harm the tree. The trees can continue flourishing in their forests, and households benefit from cork’s properties. It is resilient against moisture and fire, which also makes it a quality insulator.
3. Reclaimed Wood
There are many qualifiers for wood, including recycled and salvaged. Reclaimed wood takes resources from an existing project to use for another application. For example, a construction company can tear down a building carefully enough to reuse its components for a future home.
Many times, reclaimed wood has already been treated, cut or designed for a specific purpose, which makes it easier to give it new life in a fresh location. Using reclaimed wood lowers reliance on virgin materials and discourages clear-cutting, primarily for hardwoods, which take years to grow. You can look for an FSC certification on these products to see if the wood that was reclaimed came from an eco-friendly source.
4. Marmoleum
You’ve seen warped and scuffed linoleum. It is somewhat durable, but the need to replace it after wear and tear doesn’t make it one of the most eco-friendly flooring options. Marmoleum is the sustainable answer to traditional linoleum. It is made with organic materials like recycled wood flour and linseed oil, and has a life expectancy of 30 years. They are flexible yet durable foundations.
Another benefit of marmoleum is in its installation. Most linoleum uses adhesives to lay down, which can release air contaminants and eventually seep into the water and soil.
5. Wool Carpet
Wool is natural, renewable and biodegradable — it hits most of the sustainability criteria families look for. It can come in many colors, but you must ensure it uses organic and bio-based dyes. Otherwise, you risk damaging the wool with chemicals and other additives that could lead to potential air pollution.
Even materials that are more flammable or absorbent, like carpet, can have underlayment to compensate for their weaknesses. Some of the best materials for moisture include recycled rubber and kraft paper-asphalt composites. It is essential to know that flooring supplements like this are also available in eco-friendly variants.
Other sustainable carpet options are also available if you want to test how different materials feel. Some include seagrass and jute, so it all comes down to personal preference on texture and appearance.
6. Recycled Glass Tiles
Glass is infinitely recyclable, but it does require a fair amount of resources to create and manipulate. The high temperatures needed to process it are potentially damaging to the planet, which is why post-consumer glass is the best option. It cuts most of the energy and resources from the manufacturing process and repurposes materials that are already available.
Your commitment to the planet preserves the Earth in another way and encourages a more circular economy. Many of these glass pieces would end up in landfills if people didn’t use them for post-industrial projects. Glass is also an essential element of terrazzo, which includes crushed stone and cement. This is another sustainable option if you want to incorporate glass without the cleaning requirements.
Sustainability Under Your Feet
Eco-friendly flooring options are everywhere if you know where to look. Each material offers distinct environmental benefits, whether it be renewability or insulating properties. Consider one for your next renovation, as the advantages do more than make your home feel refreshed — it helps the planet establish a greener tomorrow.
