Green flooring, sometimes called Eco Floorcovering, is the latest trend in the consumer flooring industry. Ecological or ecological soils can have different meanings for different people. The industry doesn’t have strict regulations for using the terms green or ecological, but it has done a good job of trying to keep up with or get ahead of the trend by using multiple tactics to help the environment in various ways. When shopping for a green or eco-friendly flooring product, there are a few things to keep in mind. Obviously, you want a floor that works well for your situation and the right product that will give you a great look so you can be proud of your project. What you need to know is that when a manufacturer deems a product green, it can mean a multitude of things, some of which you may never have thought of.
o Sustainability: One method of creating environmentally friendly floor coverings is to create a flooring product that does not rapidly deplete the Earth’s natural resources. An example of this is the recent popularity of bamboo and cork flooring. Both types of flooring are promoted as hard surface alternatives to hardwood flooring. Bamboo is a fast growing resource and can be harvested with minimal impact on the environment. Cork can also be used as a quick renewal resource as the process to obtain cork does not damage the tree and it can regrow quickly compared to traditional hardwood forests. Another exciting new sustainability-oriented product is Mohawk’s Smartstrand, which uses carpet fibers produced from corn.
o Recycling: Many manufacturers have taken a stance on zero-landfill manufacturing. The carpet industry is a good example of this. Several carpet manufacturers continually try to improve their process to reuse waste materials in new products or even main products to reduce waste. An example of this is a conventional carpet fiber called PET which is produced using recycled plastic bottles that would have otherwise ended up in landfills.
o Energy Consumption: Floor covering producers have adopted the plan to save energy both to improve the bottom line and to help reduce the need for coal and fossil burning electricity sources. Various manufacturers have specific products made solely from alternative energy sources such as wind power.
o Non-Hazardous Materials – New products are being researched and developed that will aid in the installation of the flooring or the flooring itself that will not harm the environment as previous products have if they end up in landfills or as waste.
When shopping for a Green floor, make sure you learn about all your options and find the product that best suits your needs and reduces your impact in one way or another on the environment.
