5 Eco-Friendly Flooring Options

We live in a disposable world. We buy takeaway and use it once, hopefully recycling it; our floors shouldn’t suffer the same fate. So, if you want to install practical and eco-friendly flooring, ‌you’re in luck; plenty of environmentally friendly flooring choices are on the market. 

Not only do you have the choice of flooring material, but there’s an eco-friendly floor for every budget, style, and lifestyle! Read on, and we’ll outline our top 5 environmentally friendly flooring materials.

What Is Sustainable Flooring?

Sustainable flooring isn’t just a label or guarantee on the box; it’s a set of traits that establish it as sustainable. Take it from a flooring contractor; these are the flooring traits that make a sustainable flooring.

• Look for the Forest Stewardship Council certification, as it means the wood is sustainably sourced.
• Consider the material. For instance, bamboo is an eco material because bamboo is grass, not wood, so it regenerates rapidly. Another environmentally friendly option is ceramic tile.
• Buy recycled flooring, like reclaimed barn board. Interestingly, both carpet and tile also offer recycled products!

Environmentally Friendly Flooring Materials 

As experienced flooring contractors, we install a lot of flooring, so here are some of our favourite eco-friendly flooring choices.

Bamboo

Bamboo is not a tree but a rapidly regenerating grass. Bamboo reaches maturity in less than five years, making grass a more sustainable material choice than hardwood or vinyl! Despite bamboo being grass, it’s actually a hardwood. Here are some other facts about why bamboo is a desirable flooring material:

• It’s more affordable than hardwood flooring, at ⅓ of the cost.
• It can handle Canadian temperature fluctuations without compromising its integrity.
• It comes in 3 unique types: strand, horizontal, and diagonal.
• It comes in 2 main stains: natural (pale) and carbonized (caramel).
• Like hardwood, it comes in many finishes and features, like UV protection.
• It’s great for allergy sufferers.
• It’s easy to clean, and maintained floors can last decades!

Cork

Cork is another renewable flooring material; it’s made from the bark of a cork oak tree. The bark is harvested from the tree without chopping it down and bark regrows within 3 years! Here are some other reasons why you should consider cork flooring:

• It’s quite durable; a well-maintained floor can last 40 years!
• It’s hygienic, as mould and mildew cannot grow on it.
• Cork is actually fire-resistant.
• It’s springy underfoot compared to tile.
• It’s available in many styles and stains to match any decor.

Engineered Hardwood

When homeowners envision a new floor, they almost always picture hardwood flooring. If you want it all, hardwood and eco-friendly, then look no further than engineered hardwood. Engineered flooring is a composite plank with a plywood core and a hardwood veneer. As veneer is just a thin piece of wood it is more sustainable than hardwood. Here are some other reasons why engineered hardwood is a popular choice among homeowners:

• It performs like hardwood flooring: durable, long-lasting, and aesthetically beautiful.
• It comes in any hardwood species types, e.g., oak or redwood.
• It’s more affordable than hardwood.
• It doesn’t warp or crack from temperature fluctuations as hardwood does.
• It comes in a wide plank.

Recycled Flooring

Upcycled flooring is an environmentally friendly trend that creates a statement in your space. As flooring contractors, we don’t see enough recycled flooring, but it leaves a positive, lasting impression when we do. Many flooring manufacturers are joining the green movement by recycling materials earmarked for landfills, like carpet, tile, wood, glass, and cork, and giving them new life by repurposing them. Here are some reasons why you should consider recycled flooring:

• No two planks or tiles are alike, giving this flooring a lot of character.
• If the flooring has lasted long enough to be recycled, you know it’s good quality.
• It tends to be affordable.

Ceramic Tile

The final eco-friendly option is ceramic tile. Ceramic is made from renewable resources like clay, as is porcelain, but ceramic is the greener choice as it isn’t heated to such extreme temperatures. So, if you’re hiring a flooring contractor to install tile for you, these are some other benefits of ceramic tile:

• It’s affordable.
• It’s waterproof, durable, and resistant to scratches, dings, and dents.
• It comes in many styles, colours, patterns, and textures.
• It’s easy to clean and maintain.
• It’s long-lasting.
• Hiring a professional flooring contractor to install ceramic tile is best, so it’s quickly and correctly done.

Our Top 5 Eco-Friendly Flooring Choices

If you’re brainstorming which flooring material suits your lifestyle and style preference, consider installing renewable, green flooring. These are some of the best eco-friendly flooring materials that are practical, durable, beautiful, and good for the planet!

If you’re thinking about renovating a room in your house and are unsure which green flooring suits it, give us the Brothers Flooring a call for a free consultation!