Flooring: What's Green, What's Not
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- Stone
- Marble
- Slate
- Ceramic
- Brick
- Tile
- Mosaic
- Terrazzo
- Concrete
- Solid wood—sustainable hardwoods or softwoods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)—(see “Resources”); purchase locally if possible.
- Do not use wood in areas that need heavy protection or that get wet.
- Finish with natural oil, like tung or linseed oil; or purchase prefinished floors that have been finished with urethane that is cured using UV light, which prevents outgassing of urethane.
- Use refurbished wood when possible.
- Bamboo—is grass that grows approximately six times faster than wood and is almost as dense and hard wearing as oak and it does not need pesticides or fertilizers to grow.
- Cork— an entirely sustainable crop; features flexibility, high insulation value and is resistant to water.
- Linoleum—composed of natural ingredients including linseed oil, wood flour, pine resin, jute and limestone. It is also biodegradable.Marmoleum® by Forbo, is one brand. However, some manufacturers may call their product linoleum when it is composed of polyvinyl chloride; so check product contents carefully.
- Area Rugs—select natural materials, such as wool, cotton, sisal, jute, coir and paper twine. Check label to determine if the rug is chemical free. Verify a Rugmark logo or a label that certifies that the rug has been made without child labor or under poor working conditions. Washable rugs are the best choice.
- Carpet—all carpets are notorious for holding dust mites and particulates and thus creating poor air quality. If your home has carpeting, make sure it is kept as clean as possible.
- Carpets made in an industrial plant, including natural wool carpet, are very damaging to the environment due to the heavy use of dangerous and polluting chemicals during the manufacturing process. Pesticide treated natural carpet and chemically treated synthetic carpet are a major problem in landfills. They do not biodegrade and they leach out toxic chemicals.
- Check the content of carpet underlays and backings, as many are treated with anti-aging adhesives like styrene butadiene rubber, which is carcinogenic. Select a wool-felt matting or recycled rubber backing or padding.
- Avoid carpets with chemically-treated stain resistance or carcinogenic fire retardants.
- Some organic carpets are available—look for natural plant and animal yarns that are pesticide free and have not been bleached or chemically dyed. The oil of lanolin found in wool is a natural fire retardant.
- Look for carpets in jute, sisal, coir and paper twine that are chemical-free.
- Check for carpets that are certified as safe by the Carpet and Rug Institute Indoor Quality Testing (CRI) in the United States. But, beware—even carpet with this label may have some toxins lurking.
- The “new smell” of carpet is, in fact, the outgassing of VOC’s that continues for up to one year.
- Open windows and doors when installing a carpet and keep them open for at least twelve hours. Do not occupy the room while smell is still evident. Vacuum room thoroughly before use.
- Composite and engineered flooring, plastic sheets, particle board and plywood—the veneer, glue, backing material and finish have an environmental impact during manufacturing and many outgas into the home. Many types of glue contain formaldehyde, urea and other dangerous ingredients that outgas into the home. These products continue to pollute in a landfill, as chemicals leech into ground and the product is not biodegradable.
- Vinyl—derived from crude oil, requires great amounts of energy to create and pollutes during excavation and manufacturing processes. Contains PVC’s, which outgas into the home. Vinyl is not biodegradable unless incinerated, which emits dangerous toxic emissions. In a landfill, vinyl leaches chlorine and heavy metals into the ground.
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About the Author
Intent.com is a premier wellness site and supportive social network where like-minded individuals can connect and support each others' intentions. Founded by Deepak Chopra's daughter Mallika Chopra, Intent.com aims to be the most trusted and comprehensive wellness destination featuring a supportive community of members, blogs from top wellness experts and curated online content relating to Personal, Social, Global and Spiritual wellness.Further reading
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