Options in Eco Friendly Green Flooring Materials
“eco friendly” “green materials“
No flooring product has zero impact on our planet, but some green materials are better than others. I’ve listed a few of the eco friendlier options you might use in your home with both the pros and the considerations that need to be pondered.
Bamboo is one eco friendly option. Bamboo is a fast growing grass that can be selectively harvested annually. It is extremely durable and harder than red oak and maple, has 50% less contraction and expansion than wood and is a renewable resource.
However, Asian sources require significant embodied energy for transport so that is something to consider. You should also take care to look for bamboo products that have no formaldehyde added. But bamboo is still a great choice over hardwood flooring and can be stained in darker colors than just the blonde color that comes to mind for more traditional looks.
Cork is another eco friendly renewable resource material made out of the bark of the cork oak tree. Only the bark is used so the tree does not have to be cut down. What’s great about cork is that it often contains recycled content, is easy to clean if properly sealed and gives great foot support.
Just look for products that have no formaldehyde added and avoid cork-vinyl composites. Also consider its origin and remember that transportation requires embodied energy for transport so try to find products sourced as locally as possible.
Rubber is another new eco friendly flooring material available these days. Virgin rubber is derived from rubber trees, a renewable resource; recycled rubber reduces the environmental burden of discarded tires.
The down side is that almost all rubber, except virgin rubber, has a significant odor from continual off-gassing and has indoor air quality impact so if you use the recycled rubber instead of the virgin rubber it needs to be used in well ventilated areas.
But its benefits are that it uses recycled material, helps reduce landfill, is easy to clean, offers good foot support, is very durable and can be installed without adhesives.
Linoleum uses the same ingredients today as when it was invented in 1863 — linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone and pigments, all pressed onto a jute backing. The ingredients are renewable items and often are recycled content, which is good for the planet.
Sometimes the linoleum is made to look like hardwood flooring as in the picture below:
Linoleum is durable, easy to clean and offers good foot support, however, it is most often made in Europe, resulting in significant embodied energy for transport. Make sure to look for “natural linoleum.” Vinyl flooring is sometimes generically called “linoleum” but is not the same thing.
Stone is another option to consider for the kitchen. It is a natural resource and a very durable material. Stone, however, is a finite resource, can result in using significant embodied energy if the stone is mined or fabricated overseas and, if the stone requires sealing, the sealers can produce potentially harmful VOC emissions.
Look for locally mined and fabricated stone or even reclaimed stone and look for stone that does not have to be sealed. I’ve seen some really amazingly beautiful things done with reclaimed stone so don’t be afraid to explore this option.
The above picture is of reclaimed limestone.
When undertaking a green kitchen remodeling project, be sure to have your licensed contractor install energy star appliances.
Planning a kitchen remodel?
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It’s important to keep in mind that many “eco-friendly” companies don’t sell environmentally friendly products, yet the convince people they do by advertising their ability to sell those products. In order to make sure that what you’re buying is helping the environment check certification. This page outlines different types of certification like FSA (forest stewardship council)… http://www.ecotimber.com/info/eco.asp
This is great stuff! My friend just opened up a new coffee shop, is remodelling, and I was discussing ways he could “go green”. We both really didn’t have any idea, so I cam home and looked it up and found your article. great starting point, thanks!
Cheers!
Jay
Going Greens last blog post..5 Simple Ways To Go Green At Home For Free
Some really great green tips! Everyday more and more people ask for “green” products. Its a good idea to offer green products because its not only good for the environment but can be profitable for businesses that offer the green products and service.
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Good stuff! I’m thinking of remodeling my kitchen, and was trying to think of ways to “go green.” My husband and I had no idea what we were doing, but then we found your article. Great starting point. thanks!
Great stuff! We are doing a major add-on to our restaurant. Seems we need to research everything to really build green.
This proves that green flooring doesn’t have to be boring! Another option that goes great with todays retro style trends is marmoleum - eco friendly and is not made with toxic adhesives.
Green Kitchen Designs last blog post..Recycled Paper Countertops - Recycled Countertops That Will Hold Up To Anything
I personally love bamboo floors although unfortunately, a bamboo floor doesn’t necessarily mean a ‘green’ floor as chemical fertilizers and herbicides are still being used on bamboo plantations throughout Asia. Also, the eco-friendly non-formaldehyde glues that are ‘thick’ enough for flooring tend to be very expensive…
Thanks for the information. It would be nice if more people commented on this topic. It’s not too confusing if you read and understand then please teach what your learning..
Indeed , this is so fitting , because as the old saying goes ” Proper teaching starts at home ” and what better place to develop eco-friendly practices than at your own home.
This list is very informative and useful because they are derived from natural materials that don’t harm the environment. We should continue these good practices for the good of the planet and us all.
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WOW! I never would have thought of linoleum as green! It is good to see so many more people making the switch to organic and green lifestyles. Great post!
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I believe we should all think about using eco friendly things. It is nice to know about this information especially about virgin rubber. To tell you honestly, i never read about that before.
Well, Coconut timber is better looking and harder and durable than rubber wood.
Furthermore it is to be slashed and burned annually… we use coconut timber to convert into coconut flooring…
While there is also rice husk… it is a waste material that contribute to millions of tons of carbon dioxide due to burning.
Currently Rice husk compressed and regenerate, we can make composite that is hardwood…
Currently doing lots of such environmentally project in South East Asia…
You never know what is out there in the world.
http://www.supertimber.com
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I agree about most of this - but wouldn’t ever recommend rubber flooring from recycled rubber. Various toxic chemicals are usually added to rubber for tires etc. Do you want to have a toxic dump in your home?
I personallyy favor wood floors - although linoleum is a good choice too. In Sweden where I live it is the standard flooring material.
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good green tips. Thanks
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It’s great to see that people are beginning to look at the impact on the environment when they make their wood flooring buying decisions. A slight caution from us is that bamboo flooring is often billed as hard wood, we would suggest that it is not as durable as most people think.
I like just about all of those flooring options and I didn’t even know about half of them. On the more unusual side, I’d be really interested to see a bamboo hardwood floor or sealed cork, since they both have really great textures. As long as everything was sealed over properly, I don’t see why any of these couldn’t last just as long as the permanent options like stone, tile, and hardwoods. Great post!
Bamboo is a great material, I’ve seen at used as a bathroom counter top. Building with green buildings products is a great way to improve the planet. I like to use composite decking and vinyl siding as a builder.
These are great. The idea of stone is very appealing especially since it is very durable. We opted for tiles, stone was just a bit out of reach on the pricing at the time.
Going green is the trend and I hope it stays that way. Thank you for this list of green resources. I am going to look deeper into each of these materials and see why these products are considered ‘green’.
Wool carpets are another source of green enviromentally friendly flooring alternatives. One might want to ask themselves how each material will react to water since the average person experiences at least one flood in their life.I have also run across a carpet made primarily of corn.
Both wax and oil are completely natural floor finishes and Floor Sanding Experts would recommend the use of these products where possible. Not only are these products safe for you, your family, your home and the environment they offer the softest and most mellow of finishes leaving your floor able to breathe naturally. Wax or oil finishes would require 2 applications.
Eco friendly floor is finally starting to come around. I am really impartial to the bamboo flooring, personally and I am going to be installing it in my apartment.
I work for a trade show company and flooring is actually the biggest form of environmentally purchasing and usage that is being implemented in the industry. All of the carpeting is recycled fabric pieces and the wood is of course recycled.
Very beautiful flooring, this interior material will impress anyone. I would not use cork or rubber in my home, might be good for offices. For the Home I would use Linoleum or stone.
This is fascinating stuff. I grow timber bamboo and I’ve always wondered how they end up with something that looks like a hardwood floor. Are the techniques they use to process the stuff really green. Green building materials do seem to be the most ethical way to build right now.
Andy Greene
Green Living Tips for Rednecks
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bamboo seems to be the material of the future. organic, fast growing, strong. I even heard about bamboo being used for surfboards; due to its strength to weight ration and the fact that it is such a longlasting material. so definately a goer for flooring.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. In Vegas we use Tile in everything. Something to consider is the local environment and tile stays cool in the heat and can be easily cleaned (no harsh chemicals). You have to build in the way that works for the climate you live in.
Great photos in this post which help to underline your points about these different floorings. I think alot depends on where you live, ie the climate, and also the style of your home, and what style suits both.
This post was a real treat for me, all these designs look perfect and I particularly loved that brown rough hardwood floor, it’s completely awesome and so different from what I am used to.
Like what you had said in your post bamboo is a great choice for wood flooring especially in kitchen, wood flooring adds up a little soice to the kitchen style plus the fact that this material is “eco friendly”, well “green materials“ are much handy to use and much affordable too.
These are beatiful floors. I would happy with any of them. The bottom line is cost. Is it more and is it worth being responsible for just one part of your home.
Those floors look fantastic. Some very useful flooring tips.
As mentioned stone is a finite resource which takes considerable amount of energy to mine and transport. A product of interest is decorative imprinted concrete overlay to create a stone or brick finish on virtually any underlying surface.
Why remove the old tired concrete when you can overlay it at a fraction of the cost of natural stone?
I have been seeing more and more Bamboo flooring in homes that I am selling recently. It certainly does look sharp. I am still partial to good ole hardwood even though it is not a green product. Love some of your photos you have taken in this post! I love the look of stone as well.
Also dont forget to use eco friendly carpet and floor cleaning materials not the traditional toxic.
I have just come across this site and have found informative and very interesting.
Thank you for sharing this it was very interesting, I have to say out of all the things that you listed I would go for the stone, yes its cold but one can always have under floor heating installed, for me its something that one can really use with out hurting the planet and that is my biggest concern, is the other stuff is just as good, and yes for the people that like the wooden floor look I think going the bamboo route would be their best option.
You really have to watch out for flooring that ads formaldehyde. Not that they lie and say it’s not in there, but most companies wont tell you directly that it’s in there so as mentioned you really have to ask and/or do your research.
Interesting indeed. It’s good to see alternatives like these are been taken to go green. Personally I thing an interior with such green effects can be really eye catching and safe as well.