Eco-Friendly Flooring
One of the hottest topics in flooring today is: which types of carpet and flooring are the most eco-friendly?
The environment is a major concern for many people, so when planning a renovation or construction project, finding the most sustainable, environmentally friendly flooring options is a top priority.
It can be a tricky question to answer as there are many different factors to take into consideration – here are some of our favourite options.
1. Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is similar to wood, but considerably more environmentally sustainable. It does come from a type of tree, but uses the bark rather than the wood, so the tree doesn’t need to be cut down. After harvesting, the bark takes anywhere from 3-12 years to regenerate — and the same tree can be harvested repeatedly for up to 250 years! Not only that, but some cork flooring is made from recycled waste from the wine cork industry. Now that’s an eco-friendly flooring option!
In your home, cork floors offer a more cushiony feeling than hardwood, and are very easy on your feet. They also provide excellent insulation, which can save energy when heating your home. Cork floors can last up to 30 years if properly protected and maintained — and they’re naturally hypoallergenic and insect-repellent.
Factors to consider:
- Cork is not typically grown in North America, so you need to consider the environmental impact of its shipping. Most of it is grown in the Mediterranean – especially in Portugal — or in northern Africa.
- Environmental protection standards vary between different cork-producing countries.
- Cork floors can be finished with a variety of stains and finishes, and need to be sealed regularly, so you will want to watch out for VOCs in the products they’re treated with.
- As with bamboo, you can now find FSC-certified cork, which is a great way of ensuring it meets the very best environmental and social standards.
2. Bamboo Flooring
Like cork, bamboo looks like wood, but it’s actually a form of grass! It’s extremely fast-growing, taking only 3-5 years to mature, as opposed to decades for a tree. Not only that, but bamboo plantations can have important environmental benefits, such as reducing erosion and preventing sediment from entering streams and rivers.
In addition, it’s quite durable, and can be refinished just like hardwood floors can (though it’s a little more difficult to repair if it becomes seriously damaged). It comes in a variety of natural shades, which can be arranged to form interesting patterns, or used on their own for a simpler aesthetic.
Also like hardwood, it comes in solid and engineered forms — though even what’s referred to as solid bamboo flooring is engineered to some extent, as it’s made of solid pieces of bamboo, compressed together with glue to form planks. Engineered bamboo flooring, on the other hand, uses a thin veneer of bamboo over a plywood or fibreboard base.
Factors to consider:
- Cork is not typically grown in North America, so you need to consider the environmental impact of its shipping. Most of it is grown in the Mediterranean – especially in Portugal — or in northern Africa.
- Environmental protection standards vary between different cork-producing countries.
- Cork floors can be finished with a variety of stains and finishes, and need to be sealed regularly, so you will want to watch out for VOCs in the products they’re treated with.
- As with bamboo, you can now find FSC-certified cork, which is a great way of ensuring it meets the very best environmental and social standards.
3. Wool Carpet
Wool is a natural, renewable resource — a traditional material that’s been in use since ancient times — and is sheared from sheep without harming them.
Wool carpets are very, very long-lasting, and biodegradable when they do meet the end of their lives, which is a big plus for their environmental footprint. They’re also hypoallergenic, good for people with chemical sensitivities, and can actually improve indoor air quality, by trapping pollen, dust and other particles, and absorbing gases.
Also like hardwood, it comes in solid and engineered forms — though even what’s referred to as solid bamboo flooring is engineered to some extent, as it’s made of solid pieces of bamboo, compressed together with glue to form planks. Engineered bamboo flooring, on the other hand, uses a thin veneer of bamboo over a plywood or fibreboard base.
Some Things to Keep In Mind:
Wool does not emit VOCs the way some synthetic materials can, but it is possible for it to absorb them from other sources, like paint, and release them over time. So if you’re planning renovation, you should probably paint before installing wool carpeting, and if repainting a room, remove any wool area rugs temporarily.
One potential area of concern is that sheep farming, like many other forms of agriculture, can vary in its environmental impact, and also in animal welfare standards. And it’s not always possible to know from a finished product how the sheep were raised. Thankfully, there are some standards and certifications evolving to monitor that, like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). Additionally, some wool-producing countries, like New Zealand, are known for having especially high environmental and animal welfare standards.
Some Things to Keep In Mind:
Wool does not emit VOCs the way some synthetic materials can, but it is possible for it to absorb them from other sources, like paint, and release them over time. So if you’re planning renovation, you should probably paint before installing wool carpeting, and if repainting a room, remove any wool area rugs temporarily.
One potential area of concern is that sheep farming, like many other forms of agriculture, can vary in its environmental impact, and also in animal welfare standards. And it’s not always possible to know from a finished product how the sheep were raised. Thankfully, there are some standards and certifications evolving to monitor that, like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). Additionally, some wool-producing countries, like New Zealand, are known for having especially high environmental and animal welfare standards.
4. Recycled PET Carpet
Synthetic carpets are often considered a less eco-friendly carpet option, since they’re made from non-renewable petrochemicals, some of which also offgas VOCs. But one very exciting development in eco-friendly carpet is the use of recycled PET from plastic bottles!
PET — one of the most readily recyclable plastics — stands for polyethylene terephthalate, which belongs to the polyester family of plastics. So recycled PET carpet is a form of polyester carpet. The exact proportion of recycled content varies, but can be up to 100%!
PET carpets are naturally stain-resistant, without requiring the chemical treatments used to protect nylon carpets from stains. They are widely considered to be better quality than other polyester carpets, as the resins used in food-grade plastic containers have to meet a higher quality standard than other polyester yarns. And they are quite low-VOC compared to other synthetic carpet options.
5. Plant-fibre Carpet (Sisal, Seagrass, etc.)
One increasingly popular eco-friendly carpet option is plant-fibre carpet, like sisal, seagrass, jute, etc. There’s a detailed rundown on the different types in our carpet fibres article, but what they all have in common is that they’re made from renewable natural materials and are totally biodegradable, making them an excellent form of environmentally friendly flooring.
All of the plant fibre carpets have a distinctively earthy, natural look, but the different fibres vary in their softness, durability, stain resistance and other factors — again, see our carpet fibres article for more. Frequently, there’s a trade-off between softness and strength.
They’re generally all considered very eco-friendly carpet options, though since most of the plants they come from are not grown in North America, once again you have to consider the environmental impact of shipping, and different countries and companies may vary in how environmentally responsible their harvesting methods are. Still, compared to a lot of other flooring options, they’re an excellent environmental choice.
6. Linoleum
Developed over 150 years ago, linoleum is made from a blend of natural materials: linseed oil of course, plus a variety of other materials that may include wood dust, cork dust, powdered limestone, jute fibres and various plant resins. It was popular from the 1870s until the mid-20th century, when it began to be replaced by less expensive vinyl floor coverings.
But in recent years it has made a big comeback, particularly in the form of Marmoleum, a fantastic, and very eco-friendly, flooring material.
Compared to synthetic hard-surface flooring, Marmoleum is just as water-resistant and easy to maintain, but considerably more durable, lasting up to 40 years, as opposed to 10-20 for vinyl and 15-25 for laminate. And most importantly, for the purposes of this article, it’s made from 97% natural, 72% renewable and 43% recycled raw materials; its manufacturing uses 100% green energy, and reportedly has the lowest carbon footprint and overall environmental impact of any floor covering!
People often confuse the various types of hard-surface flooring, like linoleum, laminate and vinyl, and sometimes those who don’t know better use the word “linoleum” to refer to all of them. But in reality, there are big differences — and a clear environmental winner.
While laminate and vinyl are partially or wholly synthetic, real linoleum is a sustainable, naturally-based and very eco-friendly flooring choice! The name is a clue: “lin-” as in linseed, and “-oleum” as in oil. (Some of you might be familiar with linseed oil from its use in paints and as a wood finish — it’s a type of flaxseed oil that polymerizes as it dries, meaning that it hardens to a plastic-like texture.)
9. Engineered Hardwood
An increasingly popular choice, engineered hardwood is made from a solid hardwood veneer over a plywood core. This reduces the environmental impact, because the thin cuts of wood used for the veneer produce much less waste than traditional planks and boards, so each tree creates more flooring and less waste. And the types of trees used for the core are typically faster-growing than hardwoods.
One thing you will want to pay attention to is the glues and sealants used — some can generate VOCs, but others do not. One way to identify the safest engineered hardwood is to look for a FloorScore certification, which guarantees a minimum of indoor air pollution of any kind.
9. Reclaimed Hardwood
Another hardwood option that’s gaining in popularity is reclaimed hardwood — wood that’s been reclaimed from old buildings that are being renovated or demolished, and given new life by reusing it as flooring.
One catch is that wood in older buildings has sometimes been painted with lead paint, or otherwise toxic finishes, so it’s important to be selective. Also, you’ll want to be sure that whatever is used to refinish it is low-VOC. However, if you make smart choices, reclaimed hardwood is one of the most eco-friendly flooring options around!
Unfortunately, it’s still a specialty item and can be expensive and difficult to source. We can’t guarantee its availability, but we’re always happy to look into sourcing it for you!
9. Porcelain and Ceramic Tile
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are made from natural materials (clay, to be precise), and are durable enough to have a very long life cycle. They stay cool in hot weather, potentially saving energy on air conditioning. Their only disadvantage as an eco-friendly flooring option is that they’re made by firing clay at extremely high temperatures, which is a significant energy cost.
What’s the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile? Basically, porcelain is a more specialized type of ceramic, made from a super-fine grade of clay for an especially smooth, dense and water-resistant form of tile (also typically more expensive, due to its quality and the materials used). Porcelain is also fired at particularly high temperatures compared to regular ceramic, so it has a heavier environmental impact.
9. Stone Tile
Stone is of course a natural material, and stone tile be very beautiful, ranging from polished marble to the rustic, textured look of slate and quartzite. It’s super durable, low-maintenance, and like all tile, doesn’t contribute to indoor air pollution as long as you choose low-VOC adhesives and sealants.
From an environmental perspective, though, you do need to pay attention to where and how it’s mined, and also be aware that due to its weight, the energy footprint of shipping it can be high.
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