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GREEN FLOORING
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One of the newest and most exciting changes in our industry is green flooring. As little as 5 years ago, the choices and availability of green floors was almost non-existent. Environmentally responsible consumers have demanded the industry offer sustainable alternatives to conventional floorings. From carpet with fewer volatile organic compounds to renewable bamboo to cork and even natural vinyl flooring such as Marmoleum.

It is important to educate yourself about the green flooring you're interested in. Here, we've outlined the major pros and cons to each flooring.

CARPET
The carpet and rug industry uses a labeling system to identify materials with fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the carpet fiber or in the adhesives used in installation. Such carpeting improves indoor air quality, a major consideration of green building. The Green Label Plus program, directed by the Carpet and Rug Institute, certifies environmentally friendly carpeting products and recently received a 2004 certificate of recognition from the California Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award program. The award program is a collaborative effort by the carpet industry and partners of California state and local government agencies. CRI has done a great deal to reduce carpet emissions. He compares their efforts with building codes that define minimum standards for construction.

Environmentally responsible carpet options each have their own merits and considerations, and what you choose will in part depend on your specific need, location, and use. Consider the following when deciding on a new carpet:

  • Recycling your old carpet to keep it out of the landfill
  • Using carpet tiles rather than rolls to aid in spot replacement and longer life
  • The type of fiber (i.e., nylon, polyester P.E.T., wool), the recycled content, and the recyclability of the face fiber, backing, and cushion
  • Choosing fiber density and durability for heavy traffic use
  • Choosing colors and patterns that reduce wear
  • Carpet fiber construction (manufactured by tufting, weaving, and fusion bonding, of which tufting is the most common) and pile type (loop, cut, or combination), which determine appearance and performance. Lower pile height and higher pile yarn density is better for high traffic areas and gives the best performance.
  • How and where the carpet will be used. Some people prefer the appearance and durability of nylon to polyester; others will state that recycled polyester (PET plastic) is more durable and naturally stain resistant. Wool carpet is naturally flame resistant, durable, and provides excellent indoor environmental quality, but at a higher cost.
  • Choosing a backing or carpet cushion with high recycled content and/or minimal resource use, choosing to eliminate the need for backing in general when not needed.
  • Indoor air quality and the method of installation – adhesives can emit VOCs and create an unhealthy indoor environment.
  • Floor coverings other than carpet make good environmental choices, and perhaps the best environmental choice is to use carpet only where necessary, and maintain and clean it properly to maximize its life.

    VINYL
    Natural linoleum (such as Marmoleum) is widely promoted and specified in the green building community Natural linoleum is made primarily from linseed oil, pine resin, sawdust, cork dust, limestone and jute. It is an all-natural alternative to resilient flooring, including sheet vinyl and vinyl composition tile, which are made from polyvinyl chloride. It can get confusing, however, since the word linoleum is still used by some people to refer to vinyl flooring.

    Proponents of natural linoleum say it does not require the same level of care that other sheet flooring.. However, natural linoleum does have some negatives, such as a higher cost than most sheet vinyl products and a relatively high rate of VOCs.

    BAMBOO
    One of our favorite sustainable floorings is Bamboo (see Teragren). There are many pros to this beautiful and durable flooring.

    Strength- Bamboo can withstand a great deal of use without damage. It’s stronger even than oak, considered the most durable hardwood. When laminated, bamboo is nearly as strong as soft steel. Bamboo doesn't’t swell or shrink as hardwoods do, making it ideal for furniture and floors.

    Renewable- Bamboo is not a tree—it’s a grass, and it grows like one. Many species of bamboo can grow two feet or more a day. When it’s harvested, it need not be replanted, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. So bamboo renews itself readily, unlike hardwood trees, which, once cut, are gone forever. Bamboo is an endlessly renewable resource.

    Environmentally Friendly-Farmed bamboo stabilizes the earth with its roots, preventing erosion. It takes in greenhouse gasses and produces oxygen. In fact 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Bamboo is a hypo-allergenic material.

    CORK
    Cork flooring has become very popular with environmentalists and designers alike. Cork can be harvested every nine years from the same tree—a much faster rate of renewal than waiting for a seedling to grow large enough to replace another. Cork is aesthetically pleasing and warms a room. It's very comfortable to walk on and cushions sound.

    EUCALYPTUS
    Lyptus® Eucalyptus trees are grown on plantations certified to Brazil’s national sustainable forestry standard, CERFLOR. This standard has been mutually recognized by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), an international organization that endorses credible sustainable forestry programs.