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What are these rugs made of? The website states they are made of plastic but I can find no discussion of whether the plastic is recycled or even recyclable on the website.

It would helpful for the blog authors to provide more information for the readers. It's very easy to recycle a photo and a link to a rug with a bold graphic design without bothering to go the extra step.

NOT GREEN.

I understand that many of us are trying to be more green but the primary focus is DESIGN.

That said... I am not crazy about these rugs. They would add a bit of color out on a balcony or patio.

I'm also concerned about whether or not the above rugs were made from recycled materials. It just seems wasteful to make more plastic. I know that the rugs on this site are made from 98% recycled material, but they're not quite as pretty as those above.

I don't think it's AT's job to anticipate every question a reader might have. If you're curious, contact the company for further information.

Nicole, DESIGN is much, much more than the pattern on a carpet.

SomeSteff, it is irresponsible of AT to indiscriminately promote items that are made of non-renewable resources. They should be asking the question themselves, for themselves, not because a reader might ask it.

You're really into telling people what they should or shouldn't do, huh.

Flamers and provacateurs are as old as the internet (anyone here old enough to remember UseNet?). Sooner or later you learn not to take the bait, and to appreciate when someone does make an informative or constructive contribution. MrG's made some great, detailed suggestions when people post photos of their rooms, and in raising consciousness about source of materials, even though the process at times gets out of hand.

Agree with KarenH, and I had the same question when I saw these. I don't know if plastic would stop me from getting one, but it's useful information in making a decision these days. MrGreen doesn't always address things in the most diplomatic way, but often does have useful information, and I'd rather have the information than a forum where everyone is always "nice."

The rugs are probably Olefin. A common synthetic that cheap rugs are made out of.

Think Target, Home Depot, etc.

They're OK for outdoors or for an entry rug - something where you want to be able to literally hose it off or put it in the washing machine.

But for living rooms etc, Olefin rugs are terrible.

My dogs won't even walk on Olefin rugs. No lie.

I had a cheap Target rug when my Bichon was a puppy and I was trying to get him to stop eating wool rugs.

They hated the Olefin rug so much that a couple months later I was able to get rid of it and bring back in a wool rug.

Never buy an Olefin/plastic rug unless you're desperate or unless hosing it off is a requirement.

If you place something heavy on an Olefin rug it will have indentations forever. If you fold an Olefin rug it will most likely have fold marks forever.

Wool on the other have will not. You get what you pay for.

That said, if you look on Craigslist you can often find nice wool rugs for the price of a Home Depot plastic rug.

My doormat is Olefin so I can throw it in the washing machine, since it rains 10 months of the year up here.

Every other rug I own is wool, and many with vegetable dyes. No, not because of the "green" factor, but because most collectors will tell you that vegetable dyed rugs get more attractive as they age.

Sorry this is long. I'm addicted to Middle Eastern rugs and could talk about them and the people who make them all day long.

By the way - since Aaron mentioned "people who are afraid of pattern"... ;->

Gabbeh rugs are a contemporary/modern rug that the cheap stuff above is based on.

Gabbeh rugs are made with wool, on cotton warps/wefts (foundation). They're primarily made with vegetable dyes, so they will be stunning, and get more beautiful as they age. Vegetable dyed wool will change appearance in a sort of random way like subtle mottling. It's absolutely stunning, and words don't do it justice. Then there is "abrash" - the nomadic tribal people who make rugs with vegetable dyes tend to make the dyes in small batches using local materials. So in a given rug, it's common to have more than one dye-lot. So there will be areas of similar color that look different. Abrash is not a defect, it's just part of the hand made character of nomadic rugs.

Gabbeh rugs are made mainly for export, around the town of Shiraz, Iran (yes, where the wine got it's name). They're made by tribespeople called the Qashqai.

The Qashqai are nomadic but their lifestyle is threatened for a number of reasons which I won't go into here but you can read about elsewhere.

Their more traditional rugs are very nice. The best ones you can find are about 40-50 years old or older. The newer ones in the tribal design aren't as nice in my opinion.

Freud used a Qashqai rug as a throw cover for his famous couch (they often use wool as the warps and wefts so they often resemble a thick blanket).

Anyway - The Qashqai around Shiraz have lately been making more Gabbeh style rugs for export, than their traditional tribal patterns. It's a mixed blessing I guess. They benefit economically because Gabbeh rugs are very popular, and for good reason - they're thick and heavy and modern looking.

If you want to see pictures of a Gabbeh rug being made, you can check the links below. These are *great* sites for information on Middle Eastern rugs.

http://www.persiancarpetguide.com/sw-asia/Rugs/Persian/Qashqai_Rugs/Guide_To_Qashqai_Rugs.htm

http://www.spongobongo.com/0her9958.htm

MrGreen,
I don't need you to educate me on what DESIGN is. And actually I don't need you to educate me on what is GREEN/NOT GREEN. I make my choices and I take responsibility for keeping myself informed. I am sure that there will be a snappy retort... but I won't be here to read it.

By the way I submitted this to AT but don't know if they'll use it.

There's now a way to "recycle" plastic *back* to oil.

Two edged sword, I know. Burning oil = bad, plastic in landfill = bad.

But maybe now one day we'll once again be able to use plastic bags without feeling (as) guilty.

http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn12141-giant-microwave-turns-plastic-back-to-oil.html

I have a woven plastic rug in my kitchen ( to cover the peeing up vinyl flooring) and it's really great to be able to clean it in the bathtub.

I have an antique Persian rug in my kitchen. All it ever needs is vacuuming, and I have two dogs (but then they wipe their feet when they come in - or rather, I wipe their feet).

boomer--

Guilty about burning oil, you??? Weren't you the same guy who snarked at me about proudly driving all-by-your lonesome in your big-ass SUV? ;)

These carpets are made in Sweden of 100 % PVC which 50% contains post-consumer recycled plastic. This plastic is thousand times better and stronger then Olefin and much easier to clean.

They are meant for the high trafficed areas such as Kitchens, Mud rooms, Gyms, Pool Houses etc.....some people buy them for bed rooms because theire kids or themselves are allergic to many natural fibers......but want the color splash they give.
Also, the same plastic is used in the european furniture manufacturing process and is used worldwide in the automobile industry per manufacturer of these plastics.

Large Citys such as Stamford, CT have privatly owned plastic dropoff recycle centers which accept any plastics not meant for the recycle box ( 1 & 2 are the only plastcis meant for the box in CT). Do your research and see if a town / city near you has one of these centers. They do not charge for your plastic garbage because they recycle it to make fake wood products for patios etc and outdoor furniture with.

I know all these things because I recylcle anything I can and go to this center a few times a year.

My company also designs and imports plastic carpets just like PAPPELINA.

I hope I have answered some of your questions.
Ev

These are cheap plastic rugs that why you can have them outdoors . Buy hey they are beautiful as well. Check these at rugs usa for other ideas

http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/control/style-search/~cid=7104