Best Green Flooring Options

[reclaimed flooring from Pioneer Millworks]

You’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to sustainable flooring options; some better than others.

Problems with old-school flooring:

Conventional and traditional synthetic carpets are often manufactured with petroleum derived materials, which not only pollutes your home, but is a pollution issue both during the making of said flooring product and when disposing of it. Other flooring options that are less than green include new wooden floors, floor backings made with toxic affixing products, and the toxic to produce vinyl tiles or floor covers.

Better green flooring options:

Green hardwood – look for floors made with wood certified by The Forest Stewardship Council or visit the Sustainable Woods Network to locate certified wood flooring products.

Cork is one great green option for floors, although, I don’t think it’s the prettiest green flooring choice, it is a sustainable and less expensive choice. Many people do like how cork looks by the way, I’m just not one of them.

Bamboo floors are amazingly gorgeous. The shades of natural bamboo look brilliant in any home and bamboo is an excellent, fast growing, sustainable material.

Earthen floors are one of my favorite green floors. Beautiful, available in a range of shades, and high durability are all perks.

Reclaimed wooden floors – Along with earthen floors, reclaimed fall into my top faves. When old buildings, barns, and homes come down, or get remodeled, their wood can be salvaged and used to create lovely reclaimed floors. These types of floors have amazing character, style, and history, plus can cost less than new wooden floors depending on your source.

One unique choice is a fruit pit floor – made with fruit pits (as the name suggests) these floors are cool to look at and long lasting.

Green carpet is another option, although, it’s not as green as other choices. Carpet, green or not won’t last as long as wood, clay or recycled glass tiles. Also, carpet is a germ fest. Carpet likes to drink in all the toxins you carry into your home on your shoes, and vacuuming alone, won’t get this gunk out. Still, if carpet is your choice you can go somewhat green and healthy by choosing carpet made with recycled content and aim for backing that doesn’t emit toxic fumes.

These are just a few of your green flooring options. To learn more visit:

Green Flooring Options for Builders

Eco-friendly Floor Choices

Eco-Friendly Flooring ideas from Co-op America