Environmentally minded flooring is becoming a big industry in our country. Oak and maple flooring contain formaldehyde and requires acres of trees to be harvested. Old discarded carpet clogs our landfills and releases toxins into our water. Luckily, today we have new types of flooring that are just as beautiful but are also environmentally friendly.

BAMBOO FLOORING

One of bamboo's greatest benefits is the rate at which it renews itself. The three-to-five year harvest cycle makes bamboo a rapidly renewable material, which is generally defined as having a harvest rotation of 10 years or less. In contrast, most hardwood species used for flooring reach saleable size in 50 to 100 years. Bamboo is a member of the grass family that matures in three years, regenerates without need for replanting and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides.

CORK FLOORING

From harvest to production to installation, cork is environmentally sustainable, non-toxic, and healthy. Cork is a truly sustainable “green-building” material. Trees are grown and the bark is harvested in the centuries old tradition without harming either the trees or their habitat. Bark is initially sent to a factory to create stoppers for wine bottles. Cork flooring is then created from post-industrial by-product of the bottle-stopper industry. This ‘waste’ material is ground up and then formed into sheets using minimal amounts of adhesive to bind the particles together under high pressure.

LINOLEUM FLOORING

Linoleum is made from all-natural materials. As long as the sun shines, and the rain falls, Linoleum can be produced. Life-cycle assessment scores show exceptional performance for Linoleum and it is nature that provides the great start by providing renewable raw materials. To produce Linoleum, oxidized linseed oil and rosin are mixed with the other raw materials to form linoleum granules, which are pressed onto a jute backing, making Linoleum sheets. To achieve maximum waste reduction, all linoleum remnants are recycled back into the production process.

RECYCLED CARPET

Residential Carpet Collection is the ultimate example of environmentally friendly flooring production. You have the ability to purchase residential carpet made from 100% post-consumer recycled food and drink containers . By purchasing one square yard of this carpet you will be keeping approximately forty plastic containers out of our landfills. The best news of all is recycled carpet is less expensive than traditional carpet, and even higher quality.

THE FACTS

The three-to-five year harvest cycle makes bamboo a rapidly renewable material, which is generally defined as having a harvest rotation of 10 years or less.