We hear every day about the depletion of rainforests and loss of habitats for animals. The harvesting of forests and other natural resources for flooring material does take a drain on the environment. That’s why some of the fastest growing trends are sustainable flooring options.
Today’s eco-friendly flooring choices are available in a variety of materials, colors, and designs, so you can not only protect the planet, but make your home look amazing as well. More than ever before, home owners looking to remodel are considering the environmental impact of their flooring choices. You have attractive, high performance, economically sound, and sustainable flooring options for your home.
What Makes Sustainable Flooring?
For flooring to be considered sustainable, it needs to fit three criteria –
- Be able to be recycled
- Contain a minimum content of recycled material
- Be made from a natural, sustainable or rapidly renewable resource.
From these criteria, a number of different flooring types can be chosen to fit your style and décor, while still being sustainable and safe for the environment.
Made from Recycled Materials
Flooring constructed from recycled materials is considered sustainable. For example, some carpeting is now made from recycled plastic bottles. This keeps those bottles from going into a landfill. Glass tiles are another green option, when they’re made from recycled bottles and jars.
Another fun idea for flooring and other home surfaces is reclaimed hardwood. This makes use of materials that would otherwise be discarded and saves trees from being cut down for brand new flooring. With reclaimed hardwood, your flooring is unique, has an interesting back story, and has great character while also being sustainable.
Capable Of Being Recycled
Another characteristic of sustainable flooring is that it is recyclable. This is key because your flooring will age and styles do change. Eventually you’ll want to install new flooring. Choosing recyclable flooring will mean that your discarded floors can be re-made into another new flooring or construction product, rather than simply becoming landfill.
Durable and Easy to Care For
A durable and easy to care for floor means one that will last longer, which can make it a more sustainable choice. Concrete is growing in popularity as a flooring choice because it is so durable and can last up to 100 years. You might think this does not sound very stylish; however, concrete can be polished, tinted or textured in different ways to match modern, industrial or minimalistic styles that are coming into vogue.
Made from Renewable Natural Resources
Sustainable flooring should also be made from an easily renewable resource. This means when the material it harvested or otherwise sourced, it can be easily replenished and have a lower impact on the environment.
For carpet, good renewable options include wool, hemp, and linen. Each of these can be grown with low environmental impact and crafted into luxurious carpet. For hard surfaces, cork and bamboo are beautiful options. Bamboo is ideal because it is durable and grows very quickly, which means it is a great sustainable choice.
Finding sustainable flooring that both looks great and minimally impacts the environment can be tough, but Dublin Carpet carries options for you. Talk to an expert and see samples in our warehouse before you make a decision by visiting Dublin Carpet today.
