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  • How to Choose Environmentally Friendly Flooring

    When it comes to remodeling your home, sustainability is a key consideration, particularly when selecting flooring options. With the abundance of environmentally friendly flooring products available, it’s crucial to examine each product’s specifics to determine its true eco-friendliness. This blog post aims to provide you with a comprehensive guide to choosing environmentally friendly flooring. By evaluating factors such as durability, place of origin, recyclability, raw materials, and VOC levels, you can make an informed decision and find the perfect flooring product for your home.

    Factor #1: Durability: Durability plays a crucial role in environmentally friendly flooring. Longer-lasting products reduce waste and minimize pollution from manufacturing processes. They also offer better value, as you won’t have to replace the flooring frequently. For example, while vinyl plank flooring is synthetic, it is considered eco-friendly due to its exceptional longevity. Some vinyl floors can last for over 50 years.

    Factor #2: Place of Origin: Considering the origin of flooring products is essential in assessing their sustainability. Products sourced and manufactured locally have a lower carbon footprint compared to those involving long-distance transportation. Opting for locally produced flooring is a key step in selecting the most environmentally friendly option.

    Factor #3: Recyclability (and Recycled Content): The end of a flooring product’s life cycle is often overlooked but has a significant environmental impact. Choose flooring that can be recycled or is made from recycled materials to reduce waste. For instance, low-VOC carpet made from recycled bottles or rubber flooring made from old tires are excellent sustainable choices.

    Factor #4: Raw Materials—Renewable or Otherwise: Many flooring types utilize renewable natural resources, such as bamboo and hardwood. However, it is crucial to ensure that these materials are responsibly sourced and harvested. Look for third-party certifications that guarantee renewable production to ensure the raw materials used in your flooring are environmentally friendly.

    Factor #5: VOC Levels: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals commonly found in industrial products. High levels of VOCs can pose health risks and harm the environment. Choose flooring products with low or no VOCs to minimize these risks. Low-VOC vinyl flooring brands and non-toxic laminate flooring are excellent options to consider.

    Selecting environmentally friendly flooring is a personal choice. You need to determine which factors make the biggest environmental impact for you.

    But now that you know how to evaluate the key factors of environmentally friendly flooring, it’s time to begin your search! Use our locator tool to find highly-rated flooring stores near you. After all, local retailers are the real environmentally friendly flooring experts!