An overview of the most eco-friendly flooring materials
The great popularity of green materials has meant that manufacturers often take advantage of this to sell their product faster. Sometimes products labeled green have little to do with being eco-frendly. So what if you want a beautiful floor and at the same time reduce your negative impact on the environment?
Straight from nature
What is natural will be more eco than what is artificially produced. Using renewable materials and products with recycled content is also a good rule of thumb. Here's a short list of flooring finishing materials.
Wood plank adds authenticity to the interior
© Thanos Pal
Solid wood
Wood is the most obvious type of eco-friendly flooring. It has been used for this purpose for centuries - trees were felled, planks were created from them and laid. It seems trivial, but there is a but - nowadays trees are often harvested at such a rate (not only for flooring) that deforestation is taking place on a massive scale. When investing in a beautiful wood floor, make sure it comes from a sustainable source.
Bamboo grows extremely fast, so its use doesn't wreak as much havoc
© Wikimedia.org
Bamboo
Bamboois not wood, but a fast-growing grass and grows on every continent except Europe and Antarctica. It is considered one of the best eco-friendly building materials. It has an incredibly high rate of self-regeneration, with some varieties able to extend their shoots by as much as 120 cm in 24 hours. It also has a high strength-to-weight ratio. It is therefore the best choice for making floors and cabinets. Unfortunately, bamboo requires impregnation to make it resistant to insects and rot; without it, this plant will attract insects and may swell and crack after absorbing water.
An interesting pattern of cork flooring
© Nicolás Boullosa / Flickr
Cork
Corkis a renewable material harvested from Mediterranean cork oaks. The bark renews itself quite quickly after being removed from the tree trunks. In addition, it is a resilient material, due to its structure it can absorb vibrations. It is also resistant to moisture and any liquids (hence it is used for wine). Collecting cork can help in the fight against global warming. Its use is both environmentally and economically friendly.
Old wooden planks create a unique atmosphere
© Jp Valery
Old wooden planks
This material is extremely valuable and fashionable nowadays. Old wooden planks salvaged from demolition work can make excellent flooring material, giving them an antique charm. Always check the condition of the wood before buying from private sellers, as it may be neglected, full of damage caused by woodworm.
The interesting texture of a jute rug
© RAMillu / Pixabay
Natural or recycled rugs and carpets
Sisal, seagrass and jute are popular natural plant fibers that look similar but are not the same and vary widely in softness and textures. All are durable and renewable materials and are naturally resistant to moths and dust mites. Such carpets and rugs are therefore ideal for people suffering from asthma, eczema and other allergies. They are all biodegradable.
- Seagrass is a plant that grows in coastal waters around the world, then is hand-picked and dried. The fibers are then woven together to create different patterns and designs, which are usually variations of the same color - green or gold. Seagrass carpet is durable and will work well in high-traffic areas. This material has a wide range of uses, and was often used to stuff the seats of communist-era chairs.
- Sisal comes from plants such as agave and pineapple in Africa. The leaves are spun into a yarn-like material that is often used to make rope and cord, making it very durable. The natural shade is a creamy white or wheat color - ideal for japanese-style interiors - which can then be dyed in a wide range of colors to match more vibrant schemes.
- Jute is harvested in India and Bangladesh. It has a natural brown hue. Jute is also softer and has a more pronounced texture than sisal, so it is not as durable and is better suited for areas with less traffic.
We can find linoleum in a variety of patterns and colors
© Wikimedia.org
Linoleum
Many retailers still incorrectly refer to vinyl tiles as "linoleum." The term has been interchangeable for years, but let's not be fooled - they are quite different materials. Linoleum is made of natural materials, while vinyl is a synthetic mixture of petrochemicals that is not environmentally friendly. All of the materials used to make linoleum are biodegradable, natural and easily renewable. It is made from flax resins mixed with wood and cork particles. A well-maintained floor made of this material has a long-lasting color, so even if it wears naturally over time, the shade found on the surface of the floor will not fade.
