The 8 Best Sustainable Flooring Types For Your Home

One of the biggest parts of your home is right under your feet- your floors. You use a huge amount of material when installing flooring in your home. This is why people are turning to sustainable flooring for their homes.

If you need new floors, you can rely on Greystone Remodeling in Raleigh, North Carolina to help.

In the spirit of being helpful, here’s a list of the best types of sustainable flooring for your home.

What To Look For In Sustainable Flooring

A great starting point is looking at the material the manufacturer uses. You’ll want a product made from natural and renewable resources.

Then there are the ethics behind the material. It’s good to find out if it’s ethically sourced and if it uses any recycled materials.

After that comes the total lifetime of the flooring material. It’s less about how natural the material is as it’s about how long it can last. Natural flooring can still create problems if you have to tear it out after a few years. More sustainable flooring last longer, which is better for the environment.

Finally, think about how toxic the material is. Adhesives and finishes can cause the toxicity of a flooring material to rise. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) harm the air quality in your home. They also pollute the air during the processing part that happens at the manufacturing plant. Fewer VOCs are better for everyone.

8 Sustainable Flooring Types

1. Bamboo

Material. Bamboo is one of the most environmentally-friendly materials because of how fast it grows. It’s very easy to replace as it matures after 3 to 5 years.

Bamboo also lasts just as long as hardwood floors. It looks fantastic, and you can choose from many stain colors.

Bamboo can have higher emission and pollution levels during the distribution process, depending on where you live. This is because it comes from tropical and subtropical regions.

2. Linoleum

For a long time, people associated it with vinyl, which has high VOC levels. This caused it to fall out of favor.

But, people made changes, and now this type of flooring is making a comeback! Manufacturers make it from biodegradable materials like linseed oil and tree resin. This makes it highly renewable.

It has a long lifespan and is also fire and moisture resistant, all of which help it be a more sustainable flooring type.

3. Wool and P.E.T. Berber carpet

While carpet is a favorite flooring due to its comfort and range of colors, it usually has higher VOC levels or other toxin levels.

Thankfully, there are eco-friendly options. Wool is a natural and renewable source and can last for several generations. 

Polyester Berber is made from recycled plastic bottles and has a minimal environmental impact. It’s durable, resists spills, and has a wide selection of patterns and colors. It may not be the most comfortable rug, and it snags easily.

Other options include cotton, jute, and sisal.

4. Cork

This material comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, which means the tree itself stays standing. The bark grows back in only 3 years, almost like bamboo. This contributes to it being a highly sustainable flooring type. Some cork flooring also includes corks from wine bottles.

It’s highly durable and resistant to mold, mites, and allergens. This is fantastic news for the air quality in your home!

5. Recycled glass tiles

The recycled part comes from wine and beer bottles. 

It helps keep these from filling up landfills and natural areas. It doesn’t have toxins or VOCs, is resistant to mold and mildew, and is easy to maintain.

You’ll love the pop of color and the extra light it helps give to rooms.

6. Reclaimed/recycled hardwood

Both of these hardwood floorings are better than new hardwood flooring when it comes to sustainability.

Reclaimed hardwood comes from trees people chopped down years ago. Recycled hardwood comes from older buildings. Manufacturers clean and mill them to order. This makes them more environmentally friendly.

You won’t have to worry about their longevity because it’s still a hardwood material.

7. Polished concrete

You may be thinking more along the lines of a concrete driveway or walkway.

Polished concrete looks way different. It’s shiny, and you can tint it in one of many colors. It’s highly durable, never needs replacing, and maintenance is a breeze.

This sustainable flooring type is rapidly gaining popularity among homeowners.

8. Natural stone

Stone is a natural material that has no toxins or VOCs.

If you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, you can always purchase a regional or local stone. This means less transportation.

It’s super durable and will last for years before you need to replace it. This does mean you’ll need to do some maintenance work to keep it looking incredible. It’s also recyclable, so you can rest assured that it won’t negatively affect the environment when you do replace it.

Natural stone is also sustainably quarried and manufactured.

Get Your Sustainable Flooring And Love Your Home Even More

Did you find inspiration for your next flooring? It’s time to give yourself the flooring your home deserves while also helping keep our planet beautiful and healthy.

At Greystone Remodeling, we know how to transform our customers’ dreams into reality using our team of expert remodelers, whether it’s flooring or other kitchen remodeling ideas. Contact us at Greystone Remodeling today to schedule your first consultation.