If you're undertaking a kitchen renovation, most likely you're looking at a new floor. But you might be wondering: Are there sustainable flooring options? Indeed there are! We've put together a list of the top six materials—bamboo, cork, linoleum, wood, tile and stone—and a list of the distributors/stores where you can buy them:
- Bamboo: While there is concern about the amount of energy it takes to ship bamboo, bamboo flooring remains an extremely durable, renewable resource. Look for bamboo products that are FSC-certified and have no added formaldehyde. Distributors: Foundations Strand, EcoTimber, Teragren, Duro Design, and Plyboo.
- Cork: Cork is made from the bark of a cork oak. It's easy to clean and has good foot support and sound absorption qualities. It's a rapidly renewable resource, hypoallergenic, non-toxic and naturally mold and pest resistant. Distributors: See Where To Buy Cork: The Top Suppliers
- Linoleum: Real linoleum is an all-natural flooring option made of linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone and pigments, all pressed onto a jute backing. It's long-lasting, easy to clean, and often contains recycled content. Distributors: Forbo Marmoleum, Nova Linoleum
- Wood: Wood is a classic and durable flooring option. Just make sure that the wood you choose is Forest Stewardship Council certified, or salvaged/reclaimed wood. Avoid products with added formaldehyde, which are sometimes used in engineered/pressed wood backing or sublayers. Also look for sealers and cleaners that are environmentally benign and low-VOC. Distributors: EcoTimber, TerraMai, Trestlewood
- Tile: Tile is beautiful and durable, and you can find companies that make their tile products with up to 100% recycled glass or ceramic. Distributors: TerraGreen Ceramics, Trend, Eco Friendly Flooring, Quarry Tile Company
- Stone: Look for locally (or at least domestically) mined and fabricated stone, but avoid buying imported stone in order to reduce transport-related energy. If you need to use a sealer, make sure it's a low-VOC product (less than 200 g/L of VOCs, per SCAQMD Rule 1113). Distributors: Eco Friendly Flooring
(Image: Bamboo flooring at the Kettle Brook Lofts)
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Im just wondering how it is that a product thats shipped from china and individually wrapped in plastic (so the resins used to make it dont fuse) is constantly being claimed as an environmental savior??? Bamboo I think we have been badly green washed in this case...
Any of these things are going to be packaged and shipped to you unless the company that makes them is in your backyard.
Anyway, we have bamboo in our home, and it looks beautiful, but our landlord wanted to save money and went with a less expensive kind, and our floors dent and scratch very easily. It has been perfect for the kitchen because it's moisture and bacteria resistant.
The truth is, when you are buying something new to replace something, that "green" is relative. I would say relative to other newly processed products, these flooring choices are quite green. I lean towards linoleum myself. I like the idea of cork, but just don't like the look much.
Going green is great and all, but unfortunately a lot of the "green" options involve a soft wood which is impossible to keep looking good for anyone with kids and/or pets. I've seen bamboo floors with various types of finishes that are covered in scratches in less than a year from pets - large, small, long nails, short nails, etc. How about some green options that are good for pet owners? Other than tile - tile in a bedroom is just weird.
Great post--thanks.
Stevi, embrace the patina... or go with reclaimed woods to begin with... a lot of homes built in the 1920s to the 40s have a great coat over the wood floors that might as well be a basketball court... you cant scratch it if you try, but i dont know what is used...
And with the bamboo question... the crap grows everywhere... its invasive as hell... you could start a bamboo farm on the top of a landfill for the most part... there is no need for import, thats just the status quo...