What type of floor is most eco-friendly? That depends. Bamboo gets a lot of attention from green-building enthusiasts these days, but there is an expanding array of options for homeowners looking for all styles of floors.
If you want hardwood, look for floors certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which ensures the wood is grown in sustainable forests with environmentally-responsible and socially-beneficial growing techniques. The FSC certifies forests across the globe, so a wide range of wood species are available - and you'll know that your new floors aren't contributing to the destruction of the earth's forests.
Carpet can be more complicated. One of the big problems: adhesive. Some carpets are installed with adhesives, and you should make sure any adhesive used in your home has low amounts of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are linked to health problems. There's also adhesive in the carpet itself - it's used to stick the small tufts of carpet fiber onto the carpet backing. If you pick up a sample and it smells vaguely like paint, it probably means the carpet uses an adhesive with VOCs. Finding one with no VOCs will reduce the amount of chemicals released into your home - and that's better for both your health and the environment. Check for carpets with a seal of approval from the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label or Green Label Plus Program to find good options for your home.
There are some time-honored eco-friendly options, too. True linoleum is a great example of environmentally-friendly flooring. Invented 150 years ago, linoleum is made from linseed oil, which comes from the flax plant. That makes it one of the most non-toxic and natural flooring options around. But if you opt for linoleum, make sure you aren't lured into a look-alike vinyl option. Although they can look similar, vinyl floors are petroleum-based.
As long as you know what to look for, though, you can find plenty of eco-friendly options for every type of flooring.
Source: BecauseAction.com
