6 Popular Choices for Eco-Friendly Flooring

By Pro.com
Special to Yahoo Homes

Going green has become more than a trend; it has become a lifestyle for many people. With the variety of home improvement products and materials being created sustainably, it’s easier now more than ever to be responsible without having to sacrifice style.

(Credit: Julia Ivantsova/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Julia Ivantsova/Shutterstock)

Learn more about six ways you can seek out flooring that is kind to the environment.

1. Local

Wood is a popular material for flooring in homes, however, your eco ethics might feel challenged to lay down wood floors because of deforestation. Fortunately, there are now manufacturers and retailers dedicated to protecting the forest by providing wood products that are harvested through sustainably managed forests: for every tree that is used to create hardwood flooring, a tree is planted to replenish the forest. Research which suppliers in your area that are committed to eco-friendly forestry practices.

(Credit: marekuliasz/Shutterstock)
(Credit: marekuliasz/Shutterstock)

2. FSC Certified

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is committed to environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices in forest management. By purchasing wood flooring that is FSC certified, you are ensuring that your flooring is coming from a responsible source, and you are contributing to the preservation of forests. Look for companies in your area that carry the FSC label on their products.

(Credit: Dr. Morley Read/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Dr. Morley Read/Shutterstock)

3. Pattern Plank

Creating hardwood floors can contribute to wasted wood material. With pattern plank wood, it is a method of fabricating wood flooring by utilizing as much of the tree as possible, maximizing the tree rather than wasting wood. There are a variety of widths and patterns as a result of this method and creates a truly unique flooring to your home. Manufacturers of pattern plank wood further act responsibly by replanting trees used for flooring.

(Credit: Kunal Mehta/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Kunal Mehta/Shutterstock)

4. Bamboo

Made from the bamboo plant, bamboo flooring is both environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. Bamboo regenerates every three to five years and can be harvested without the need to replant since the roots are left undisturbed. Bamboo flooring repels insects, water and mildew and have a hardness that is equivalent or greater to certain kinds of hardwood floors. It has a unique quality and pattern to it and is not made into a variety of styles as well as colors.

(Credit: viphotos/Shutterstock)
(Credit: viphotos/Shutterstock)

5. Cork

Cork flooring is an excellent alternative to wood flooring. Cork is environmentally friendly since it is harvested from the bark of a cork oak tree, which grows back every three years. And, due to its natural elasticity, it will feel like you are walking on air. Choices for color and are endless, making it easy to blend in with a home’s overall aesthetic. Furthermore, cork floors are fire and insect resistant, and repels dust due to its hypo-allergenic nature.

(Credit: Dmitry Naumov/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Dmitry Naumov/Shutterstock)

6. Reclaimed

Reclaimed wood is used, salvaged and then recycled into new material. The older the wood is that has been salvaged, the stronger it is, further encouraging reusing old material. Reclaimed wood can originate from leftovers at a construction site, or from a building that has been demolished. Manufacturers of wood flooring then take the reclaimed wood and give it a new purpose. By purchasing wood flooring that has been salvaged, not only are you recycling, you are also eliminating waste in landfills.

(Credit: welcomia/Shutterstock)
(Credit: welcomia/Shutterstock)
 
 

Pro.com is a website founded in 2013 by service industry entrepreneurs and former Amazon executives to simplify home services -- especially research on contractor fees and qualifications.

Related Articles from Pro.com:
Natural Ways to Treat Mold in Your Home
11 Hot Trends in Flooring
Top 10 Kitchen Island Trends