Eco-Friendly Flooring Solutions You’ll Love for a Greener Home

Are you looking for ways to make your dream home more sustainable? You’re not alone! Many homeowners, developers, and contractors are doing the same thing. A great way to start is to consider eco-friendly flooring options.

Incorporating sustainable products and practices into your home, business, or new personal building project helps reduce your carbon footprint and can add to the future value of your property. Since the demand for green building materials continues to grow, many versatile, high-quality flooring options are available.

So, how do you choose the best eco-friendly flooring option for your unique space? Each sustainable floor material has its benefits and pitfalls, so it’s crucial to understand the differences before introducing them.

With so many options, we understand why it can be overwhelming. But no need to worry. In this blog, we will share everything you need to know about eco-friendly flooring and the key differences between each option. Let’s not waste any more time and dive right in!

What Makes Flooring Eco-Friendly?

We’re throwing around the term eco-friendly flooring, but what exactly makes a material environmentally sustainable? It’s not just about the materials themselves but also how they’re produced, transported, maintained, and eventually disposed of or recycled. 

Before we explore individual environmentally friendly flooring options, we’ll examine some of the most crucial factors contributing to a flooring material’s claim to sustainability.

• Recyclability

Eco-friendly flooring should be recyclable at the end of its life. This means when you want to replace your floors in the future, your flooring material can be repurposed or turned into new products. The goal is to reduce the need for new resources and minimize landfill waste.

• Production Efficiency

The manufacturing process of flooring materials is also crucial. Flooring options that require less energy to produce, especially if that energy comes from renewable sources, are considered more sustainable.

• Local Sourcing

The environmental impact of transporting materials can be significant. We always recommend sourcing materials locally. This is because locally sourced materials reduce carbon emissions and help support local economies—the best of both worlds!

• Maintenance Considerations

An eco-friendly floor also demands minimal upkeep, reducing the need for harsh cleaning agents. It also boasts durability and a long lifespan, ensuring that the resources used in its creation yield the maximum benefit over time.

• Installation Methods

Did you know that the way you install flooring can impact its eco-friendliness? Most flooring options can be installed in one of two ways: floating or glued. Choosing a floating flooring can make it easier to reuse or change in the future. Plus, no glue means you don’t need to worry about whether the glue is eco-friendly and non-toxic.

Talk to our award winning team about installing eco-friendly floors

• VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gases that emit from specific flooring materials. They can negatively affect both short and long-term health. Therefore, you should select products with minimal to no VOC emissions for your home or workplace.

Fortunately, identifying low or no-VOC products is straightforward. Look for certifications like FloorScore® or GREENGUARD, which companies typically highlight on their websites or packaging. These certifications indicate a lower environmental impact and healthier indoor air quality.

9 Eco-Friendly Flooring Options You Should Consider

We’ve included as many eco-friendly flooring options in our guide as possible. You won’t need to go through source after source to compare the top sustainable floor alternatives! 

Renewable Materials

1. Bamboo Flooring

Everyone’s first choice for sustainable flooring seems to be bamboo, and for good reason! Bamboo is a super sustainable material since it can grow to full maturity in as little as three to five years. Plus, it didn’t require any chemicals or super-specific care.

When you compare bamboo’s five-year timeframe to other trees, which often take 20 years or more, it makes sense that bamboo is the popular eco-friendly flooring choice.

While most people enjoy bamboo because it looks fantastic and offers different textures and stains, there are other reasons to choose this sustainable flooring. Bamboo is known to be durable and naturally antibacterial, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

Be mindful of the varied manufacturing processes and sourcing requirements of bamboo flooring. If it needs to be transported across long distances or uses problematic VOC adhesives, you won’t be reaping all the benefits of bamboo floors.

2. Cork Flooring

You likely know cork as the go-to material for bulletin boards and wine corks. More recently, it’s become a staple in the sustainable fashion industry, so it makes sense that cork can also be a suitable option for green flooring.

Cork is a renewable resource harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without harming the trees. The best part about using cork as a flooring option is its numerous benefits for the home, including natural insulation against heat and sound, fire resistance, and insect repellency.

While cork is very comfortable to walk on, making it great for bedrooms, it isn’t as durable as other flooring materials. We advise against using cork in any high-traffic area of your home.

3. Stone Flooring

Stone flooring may not be the traditional route, especially inside the house. That said, if you’re looking for a unique, sustainable flooring option, stone may be the material you’re searching for!

Stone brings a diverse beauty to flooring—so many different types of stone can be suitable depending on the look and feel of your home. From the sleek marble polish to the more natural charm of slate and quartzite, you can find a stone to suit your needs.

Its exceptional durability and low maintenance needs make it an attractive choice. Moreover, stone tiles promote healthier indoor air quality, especially when paired with low-VOC adhesives and sealants.

While stone is a natural material with a long lifespan, remember that its eco-friendliness can vary based on quarrying practices and the distance from source to home. Our recommendation is to source stone locally for your unique flooring project. 

4. Plant Fibre Carpet

If you’re looking for a flooring option that’s easier on your knees and feet, consider carpets made from plant fibres—think sisal, jute, and seagrass. These natural fibres are all biodegradable and sourced from renewable resources, offering an earth-friendly flooring solution.

Plant fibre carpets all have a natural look, which makes them great additions to neutral or minimalist-styled homes. While each type of plant fibre is distinctive and has its own advantages and disadvantages, there’s often a tradeoff between the softness and durability of the plant fibres.

The only drawback to this alternative is that these plants are often sourced from outside North America, meaning you must consider the impact of lengthy shipping routes. 

Recycle Content

5. Recycled Wood Flooring

Depending on your interior design preferences, recycled wood flooring can add a unique and exciting element to your living space. Reclaimed wood also helps the environment by reducing the demand for new timber.

Imagine a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind floor made from reclaimed wood from old buildings or furniture. Its growing popularity and hard-to-source nature mean this eco-friendly flooring option can be pricey. 

Although it shares qualities with new hardwood floors, it’s essential to be picky about the type of wood used in reclaimed wood flooring. You must be careful; some older wood may be contaminated with lead paint or other toxic finishes.

6. Recycled Rubber Flooring

Where do all the old tires go? Your used and recycled tires can be used to make durable, eco-friendly recycled rubber flooring. This sustainable option not only diverts waste from landfills but also tackles a significant environmental challenge. 

Rubber floors are known for their resilience and durability. They stand up to heavy use and, therefore, require less frequent replacements. Rubber is also slip-resistant and shock-absorbent, which is ideal for high-traffic areas or spaces prone to slips and falls in residential and commercial buildings. 

While recycled rubber flooring may not suit every room due to its cold and hard texture—making it less ideal for living rooms or bedrooms—and cannot be refinished like wood, it can definitely be a beneficial choice in specific situations.

7. Recycled Glass Floor Tiling

Another less common environmentally responsible flooring option is recycled glass. Glass tiles are a great alternative to more traditional porcelain or ceramic materials as they require much less energy to produce. 

Glass tiles, often made from recycled bottles and other glass items, offer a unique, sustainable, and beautiful flooring option. Since they reflect light, making a room lighter, they can be used on the wall or the floor! The only thing to remember is that glass tiles are less durable than other flooring materials.

Low-VOC & Non-Toxic Materials

8. Linoleum Flooring

Homeowners and builders often overlook linoleum as an “old school” flooring choice. However, recently, it’s made a strong comeback due to its eco-friendly qualities. 

Crafted from natural, biodegradable materials like linseed oil, cork dust, pine resin, and wood flour, it’s a sustainable option that contributes to better indoor air quality since it doesn’t emit any harmful toxins. 

Linoleum’s popularity declined because of outdated designs and confusion with vinyl, which releases higher VOC levels. However, today’s linoleum comes in various colours and designs, meeting modern tastes while staying green.

In addition to its visual and environmental benefits, linoleum is durable, easy to clean, water-resistant, and fire retardant. Busy families searching for safe, easy-to-maintain flooring or those upgrading a bustling commercial area might be pleasantly surprised by linoleum’s impressive qualities.

9. Wool Carpet

Although natural wool carpets may not be the first type of flooring that comes to mind, they are durable, luxurious, renewable, and biodegradable. With all those advantages, natural wool carpets sound like an excellent choice for your floors!

Wool is a natural and renewable material harvested from sheep without harm. This eco-friendly flooring choice is hypoallergenic and beneficial for indoor air quality by capturing dust, pollen, and absorbing harmful gases without emitting VOCs. 

However, these floors can absorb and release VOCs from other sources, so we recommend painting walls before laying wool carpets. Alternatively, you can temporarily remove wool rugs when repainting.

Another thing to consider is that the impact of sheep farming on environmental and animal welfare can vary. We admit it can be challenging to trace the farming practices for wool in finished products. Standards like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) are emerging to address these concerns. Countries like New Zealand are recognized for their high environmental and animal welfare standards in wool production.

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Sustainable Flooring

Selecting sustainable flooring involves more than just picking out a material that looks good in your home. It’s about making a conscious decision that aligns with your environmental values and lifestyle needs. 

Before picking your home’s eco-friendly flooring, ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Do I want flooring made from renewable or recycled materials?
• Which certification is most important to me based on research? 
• Is the flooring product I’m considering considered low-VOC and non-toxic?
• How durable is the flooring option I’m looking for and how does that impact my maintenance and replacement costs in the future?
• Which sustainable flooring choice suits the style and colour of my space?
• Where will the flooring be installed, and what does that mean for flooring requirements?
• Should I DIY or hire professional installers?

Learn how our award winning team can help you choose the right flooring material for your next home renovation project.

Choosing sustainable flooring is a step towards reducing your environmental footprint while creating a safe and beautiful space. Be sure to ask yourself these questions before choosing your top green flooring pick, and it’ll help you find a flooring solution that meets your aesthetic preferences, practical needs, and commitment to the environment.

Get Help Transforming Your Home With Eco-Friendly Designs

Now you know there’s much more to sustainable flooring than the materials it’s made of. Many other factors you must consider when choosing your flooring include the production process, life cycle, maintenance, and recyclability.  

Fortunately, the growing demand for sustainable living has led to diverse, durable, and green flooring options. Let’s prioritize environmental sustainability so that we can all create stylish, functional, and kind spaces for the planet.

The maison d’etre team is dedicated to sustainability while offering the highest quality services to its customers. After completing thousands of renovation projects, we can help you design a home you’ll love, from completely replacing your floor to giving your kitchen a facelift. Contact us for a free consultation to get personalized recommendations.