More homeowners and business owners than ever before are making sustainable choices when it comes to flooring. The good news is that seeking eco-friendly floors does not mean that one has to sacrifice style or aesthetics. However, selecting the right type of eco floors is not a small task, and the decision should be made with careful thought. 

WHY CHOOSE ECO-FRIENDLY FLOORS?

Environmental Preservation

There is a great emergency today to save the environment and preserve what we have. Simply cutting down trees to make hardwood flooring is not sustainable if the timeframe and amount of wood harvested are not considered. 

Today, for every tree that is cut down to make flooring or other materials, in sustainably managed forests, an average of 1-3 extra trees are planted back. This will hopefully ensure that the harvest will always be at a lower rate than the growth rate. 

Even though it takes hardwood trees at least 50 years to mature, the current supply is adequate to last at least another 75 years as long as we continue to plant new trees.

Manufacturing

Some of the biggest changes that have occurred in the flooring industry are in manufacturing. In the past, waste and leftover material were very common, which had a negative effect on the environment. 

Newer ways of manufacturing and awareness of the environment have led to more efficient ways of flooring manufacture without causing waste or harm to the environment. For example, when wood flooring is manufactured, the sawdust and wood chips that remain are used to make paper and other composite products. 

Further, any excess wood is burned to supply heat and energy; hence, there is very little waste.

The flooring industry has gone to great lengths to reduce its carbon footprint and make the planet a healthier place for all citizens. Measures are now being adopted by business owners and homeowners that involve eco floors. These measures not only make the environment safe but also add value to the property.

One of the best ways to practice eco-friendly problem-solving is to start at the ground level and go up. Today, there are many great green flooring options for homeowners and business owners who want a clean, sustainable, and healthy environment.

Looking for Eco Floor Options

When selecting the right eco-friendly flooring for your home, you need to know what to look for:

  1. First, consider what type of materials the manufacturer uses to make the flooring. In general, you want flooring made from a renewable source, or that is naturally occurring.  
  2. Second, try to determine the actual way the flooring is manufactured. Does the manufacturer use pesticides and fungicides on the trees used to make wood? Is there any recycling? What types of adhesives and glues are used to bond the materials together? You preferably want adhesives and glues that have a low risk of releasing volatile gasses like formaldehyde.
  3. Third, once the flooring has reached its end stage, you need to ask if it can be recycled or if it is sent to the landfill. You preferably want a flooring material that can be recycled/biodegradable and avoid the landfill sites where the chemicals may leach into the soil and waterways.
  4. Finally, consider how the flooring will be installed. If the flooring material requires adhesives and glues, there is a risk of the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment. Preferably, you want flooring that can be installed with nails, interlocking panels, or the use of glues with low VOCs.

Eco-Friendly Flooring Choices

Now that you have some idea of what to look for when considering eco-friendly floors, here are some of the flooring materials that you may want to consider.

  1. Bamboo is a big name in the world of eco-friendly products. While bamboo may be a relative newcomer to the North American market, it has been widely used as flooring in Asia and Africa for decades. Not only is bamboo extremely durable and tough, but it also matures much faster than almost all hardwood trees. Bamboo matures in about 5-7 years compared to the several decades it takes for hardwood trees. Plus, bamboo has all the attributes of traditional hardwood, including excellent aesthetics, versatility, toughness, and the ability to be easy to clean and maintain. Most of the bamboo flooring available in the USA is already prefabricated and only requires installation. And because bamboo can last many decades, it helps preserve the environment as fewer trees are cut down.
  2. Cork has gradually been gaining popularity in North America. Cork is made from the bark of the corn oak tree, a process that does not mean cutting down the tree. Once the superficial layer of the tree is removed, the bark grows back within 3-4 years, making it one of the most efficient renewable sources for flooring. None of the cork left over from the flooring is discarded. The remainder is used to make corks for wine bottles and furniture. Besides being environmentally friendly, cork has a natural ability to repel insects, mold, and dust, making it a great option for eco floors as it does not adversely affect the air quality.
  3. Linoleum has been around for many years, but since the introduction of other newer flooring materials, it has fallen out of favor. In addition, linoleum is synthetic and known to release noxious gasses indoors. However, in recent years, the manufacture of linoleum has undergone a drastic change with the use of biodegradable materials for construction, such as tree resin, linseed oil, and cork dust. In addition, the use of adhesive with low VOCs has made the product much safer. Linoleum, like vinyl, has good durability, is available in many designs and patterns, and is also moisture and flame resistant. Today, linoleum is widely used in the residential home industry primarily because it is affordable, has excellent aesthetics, and is available in many designs.
  4. Nothing beats engineered wood for eco-friendly floors. Made by combining solid hardwood planks with a surface layer of plywood, engineered wood is exceptionally strong and durable. Like hardwood, engineered wood is aesthetically pleasing. The most important thing is that engineered wood is often made from recycled hardwood, which makes it a much better sustainable option than even traditional hardwood. Like hardwood, the installation of engineered wood also increases property value and will easily last many decades. The adhesive used to combine the wooden planks contains low VOCs. In addition, non-toxic stains and finishes are used on the surface to maintain aesthetic appeal, meaning that the indoor quality of air is not compromised.
  5. Reclaimed hardwood is another option. Not all hardwood flooring comes after cutting down trees. A number of manufacturers today use recycled wood to make flooring. This decade’s old practice is widely gaining popularity because it preserves trees and is a sustainable method of making new flooring. The technique of reclaiming or restoring hardwood has been refined, and all imperfections, like cracks, marks, splits, and dents, are carefully removed so that the new flooring is not impacted in either function or longevity. With the recycling of wood, there is a decreased demand for deforestation, and very little is sent to a landfill or burned for energy. At the end of the day, recycled hardwood is just as elegant as traditional hardwood and difficult to tell apart.

CONCLUSION

If you are considering making a responsible change to the flooring of your home or business and prefer sustainable flooring and eco floors, speak to a consultant from East Coast Flooring & Interiors. Today, consumers have several good options for flooring that are not only safe but also durable and aesthetically pleasing when it comes to eco-friendly floors.