Upgrade Your Flooring with These 5 Sustainable Ideas

Whether you’re looking to give your home a complete eco-friendly overhaul or you’re working with a blank canvas, one of the first things you should consider is sustainable flooring. 

A project that you can take on throughout the pandemic or afterwards, it’s a wonderful way to make your home environmentally friendly from the ground up! Avoiding harsh chemicals and long production processes, you’ll know that you are doing your bit for the environment from the get-go.

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However, not only are the following ideas sustainable, but they are also durable – meaning that you can enjoy your flooring for longer, without worrying about it damaging the environment. A popular choice for many modern homeowners, it’s the first step towards a greener home. 

Bamboo 

Throughout the last few years, people have started to recognise the beauty and simplicity of sustainable bamboo flooring. Now available internationally, it’s used as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wooden flooring – such as timber. Known for being the fastest growing plant (growing up to 70ft in height), it doesn’t require dangerous chemicals or pesticides to grow. 

Plus, due to its durability and stylish appearance, you can use bamboo throughout your home, whether it’s in the kitchen, hallway or master bedroom. 

Engineered Wood 

When sustainability is your goal, look no further than engineered wood. Protecting against heat transference, your home will be a comfortable temperature throughout the year – no matter what the season.

Not only this, but each plank of the flooring is approximately 10mm thick (this can vary of course so check an Engineered Wood Flooring thickness guide before you choose it). As it’s so thin, it allows manufacturers to utilise the remaining wood to create more planks. This, therefore, reduces the amount of waste that’s produced. 

Engineered wood is also very durable in comparison to other types, meaning that you won’t have to replace it for many years. This ensures that less wood is needed to meet the customer’s demand. 

Cork 

Although you might think that cork tiles look like something out of the 1970s, they are making a comeback in a big way. Whether they are used in a home office, dining room or kitchen, they are a renewable source that’s bound to impress. Despite its typically large price tag, it’s biodegradable, anti-microbial and recyclable, making it the perfect option for your eco-friendly home. 

Reclaimed Materials

If limiting manufacturing is your goal, then why not opt to create your flooring out of reclaimed materials instead? With this option, you’ll be able to get your dream flooring whether it be reclaimed stone, glass or wood. 

For the latter, to ensure that the wood is as eco-friendly as possible, ensure that the flooring is created from trees that were previously cut down or that it was salvaged. 

If it’s your dream to have hardwood flooring, but you don’t want to contribute to deforestation, then look out for hardwood that’s FSC certified. This certification gives you the peace of mind that the flooring is created from either recycled sources or forests that are well-managed and adhere to specific environmental standards. 

Concrete 

Sustainable luxury at its finest, concrete flooring is an incredibly popular option for chic modern homes. With a sleek appearance, durable service and easy-to-clean properties, polished concrete is a very sustainable option. The ideal flooring solution for bathrooms and kitchens, it can be paired with any decor. 

Using concrete, water, sand and gravel, this simple yet effective option may be on the more expensive end (due to difficulty to install it and the fact it can take up to a year to reach its full strength) but it can be a wonderful option for your home – especially for those wanting to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Final Thoughts

Those are just 5 sustainable options of flooring that you could use throughout your home. Of course, the flooring that you choose is up to you. But whichever you settle on, it’s a great start to a home that’s friendly to the environment. 

                                 

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Tracy Kiss

Social influencer, Bodybuilder, Mother, Vegan
London, UK

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