Types of sustainable flooring

When it comes to choosing flooring for your home, the variety is vast. And while the appearance and price are certainly key factors in making decisions, don’t forget that there is always the choice of a sustainable floor, which, with good quality, will last for many years.

What does a sustainable floor represent

It is a surface that is made from easily renewable materials through ecological processes. In addition, it has little impact on the ecosystems around it throughout its life cycle, from harvesting to production, use, and disposal. Many sustainable floors also have a social aspect, as traditional types of flooring such as bamboo or sisal are highly valued when it comes to sustainability, and choosing such options ensures a future for the communities that supply and produce them.

Here are some of the “greener” options for a sustainable floor

Hardwood

Wooden floors have been popular worldwide for centuries. They add warmth and color to the interior, are practical and easy to clean, and unlike carpets, they are great for people with allergies. What’s more, depending on the type of wood material you choose, it is a fantastic eco-friendly choice for flooring.

Let’s start with the fact that trees are a renewable resource, but it is important to choose a type that is grown in plantations and harvested for commercial purposes, rather than one that is illegally obtained from local forests. Trees also absorb carbon dioxide while they grow, and it remains stored in your flooring instead of being released as emissions into the atmosphere. Furthermore, at the end of its useful life under your feet, the wood can be repurposed or recycled, keeping the carbon locked inside.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a traditional flooring material in Asia for centuries. It may resemble hardwood in appearance, but it is actually made from a rapidly renewable resource – bamboo is a grass, not wood, and it grows to maturity in just 3-5 years. It stores up to 70% more carbon annually than hardwood and can be harvested without the need for replanting, as its root system remains intact. All of this means that its carbon footprint is low, even after factoring in transportation outside of Asia. It is durable, extremely resilient, naturally antibacterial, and resistant to insects and moisture, making it ideal for humid environments.

There are various types of bamboo flooring available, each of which differs slightly in the manufacturing process, economic viability at the source, and local preferences. In Asia, the most common form uses thin bamboo stalks, cut as flat as possible, and then trimmed to similar lengths. The wood can then be stained, lacquered, or left with a natural appearance.

Outside of Asia, it is more likely to find higher processed bamboo floors. They are usually made from mature bamboo poles, again cut into strips, then peeled and boiled to remove natural starches and sugars. The wood is then dried and planed, providing two main naturally occurring colors, similar to beech and oak.

When it comes to the lamination stage, the eco-friendliness of the most widely used bamboo flooring is prone to compromise. This is because it is usually bonded together using urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins, which release volatile organic compounds that are not good for air quality at that time. However, bamboo uses much less UF adhesive than other options, such as wood particle substrates.

Cork

Cork tiles or planks are made from the bark of the cork oak tree, which is carefully harvested from the living tree. This means that it is a highly renewable and sustainable resource for flooring. It is harvested from the cork tree once every 10 years, after the tree reaches 25 years of age. Each tree can live up to 200 years.

In terms of flooring performance, cork has many advantages. It is naturally antimicrobial, excellent at insulating against both noise and heat loss, and comfortable underfoot. Its elasticity also means that it handles furniture placement and heavy foot traffic well. Last but not least, it is fire-resistant.

Cork is high on the “green” scale. As a tree, it provides habitat for other plant and animal species and has minimal carbon emissions during harvest. Additionally, it is highly recyclable once the flooring is ready.

Linoleum

Real linoleum has been around since 1855. It is made from 100% renewable sources and is 100% biodegradable.

Linoleum is a mixture of dried and ground flax seeds, pine resin, ground cork, and pine resin, with a base of jute, felt, or canvas. It is fire-resistant and also anti-static, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. Additionally, since its decorative pigments are embedded in the structure of the linoleum, it does not fade.

High-quality linoleum is extremely flexible, making it useful in environments where tiles would crack. There are cheaper linoleums available, but they are thinner in cross-section and will not last as long.

Once every 10 years, after the tree turns 25 years old. Each tree can live up to 200 years.

When it comes to flooring, cork has many advantages. It is naturally antimicrobial, a great insulator against both noise and heat loss, and comfortable underfoot. Its elasticity also means it handles furniture placement and heavy foot traffic well. Last but not least, it is fire-resistant.

Cork is high on the “green” scale. Like a tree, it provides habitat for other plant and animal species and contributes minimal carbon emissions during harvest. Additionally, it is highly recyclable once the flooring is ready.

Rubber

Rubber flooring is usually associated with commercial and industrial spaces, but with a little imagination, it can play a useful role in the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. Real rubber is obtained from the living rubber tree and is therefore a 100% renewable resource. As a floor, it is easy to install and maintain, clean, insulated against sound and vibrations, and anti-static, making it great for asthmatics.

Carpet

The materials that can be used to make carpets are truly diverse, but perhaps the biggest surprise here is that woolen carpets (despite wool being a natural, sustainable, and renewable resource) are rated very poorly on the “green” scale, according to published studies. This is largely due not to the wool itself, but to the energy requirements in carpet production, the volatile organic compounds released from the adhesives used in carpet installation, and your choice of underlay. However, low VOC carpets are becoming more and more accessible.

What are the other options if you are concerned about the ecological performance of woolen carpets? Sustainable carpets also include those made from other natural fibers such as cotton, sisal, jute, or coconut husks. One particularly “green” option is a carpet made entirely from recycled polyethylene terephthalate – the plastic used in food and beverage containers.

There is an endless source of things, recycling them in this way protects them from our landfills, and their painting is less polluting and requires less energy than other types of flooring.

Coconut wood

The wood of the coconut palm is a relatively rare choice for flooring, but it has good durability characteristics. Coconut palms grow quickly, but the wood is usually harvested from 60-80-year-old plants that no longer bear fruit. Coconut wood is a hard wood with an unusual, attractive grain. It is cheaper than teak wood and as hard as mahogany.

You have already received quite comprehensive information about the types of sustainable floor coverings, now it’s just a matter of making the right choice for your home.

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