Choosing Environmentally Friendly Carpeting Materials

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Like my mom, I’ve never been good at gardening. Sadly, I usually have extreme difficulties keeping plants and flowers alive. Surprisingly, my sister is an extremely talented agriculture teacher. Her hobby is growing flowers. My sister understands my lack of gardening talents. For this reason, she gives me a few hanging baskets of geraniums each year. She knows that these flowers are easy to maintain. Thankfully, I seem to have success growing these gorgeous flowers. They bloom nearly all year on my front porch. On this blog, I hope you will discover the easiest plants and flowers to grow. Enjoy!

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Choosing Environmentally Friendly Carpeting Materials

20 May 2016
 Categories: , Articles


If you are working on an interior design scheme to transform your home, then you may be thinking about making the design as green as possible. If so, then there are many different flooring options you can choose from. If you have your heart set on a fantastic new carpet, then keep reading to learn how to make the carpeting installation an environmentally friendly one.

Pick The Right Carpeting Materials

Many carpeting materials are not green, and this is especially true of synthetic carpets. These carpets are made out of materials like polypropylene or nylon. Both of these materials are types of plastics, and petroleum is used during the manufacturing process to create the synthetic fibers. This petroleum helps to create strong bonds between the fibers of the carpeting. This may mean that your flooring material will sustain a great deal of wear and tear. However, this also means that it will not decompose easily when placed in a landfill. Plastics used to make textiles, like polypropylene, can take hundreds of years to break down.

Instead of opting for synthetic carpeting, choose a flooring made from sustainable materials. There are many options available. Woven wool, yarn dyed with vegetable-based coloring, and seagrass carpets are all varieties to consider. If you want one of the most sustainable carpets possible, look for flooring made from natural bamboo fibers. If you are creating a more luxurious design aesthetic in the home, then consider bamboo silk rugs

Bamboo is an ideal material for carpeting because it can grow extremely quickly. A single plant can grow three or more feet a day. Bamboo is extremely hearty, and this means that pesticides and fertilizers are not needed during the growing process. The plants also release a good deal of oxygen into the air as they grow. While chemicals must be used to turn the stalks into usable fibers for textiles and other products, the environmental benefits of the material far outweigh the negatives. 

Choose A Green Pad

Most carpeting installations involve the placement of a pad before the flooring material is secured. This helps to add cushioning to the floor. Unfortunately, these pads are typically made from urethane foams. These foams contain petroleum, much like synthetic carpeting fibers. You should avoid the use of these pads if you want environmentally friendly carpeting. You can skip the pad altogether if you choose a carpeting with a thick backing that provides its own cushioning.

If you do want a pad installed under the carpet, then opt for a recycled cotton pad. These pads are sometimes called rag pads and contain bits of different colored cotton padding. The variegated coloring across the pad is one telltale sign of a rag pad. If you choose a pad like this, then make sure that your installation expert does not use an adhesive to stick the pad to the floor or to adhere the pad to the carpeting. Many carpeting glues contain VOCs that can release chemicals into the air long after the flooring installation is complete. 

Ask your flooring professional to use basic tacks to secure your carpeting in place. If adhesives are advised due to the installation of a larger carpet, then ask the installer to use a water-based adhesive. Many of these adhesives are environmentally friendly and VOC free. 

If you want a green design aesthetic in the home and you are planning on remodeling, then make sure your floors are as environmentally friendly as possible. You can opt for carpeting. Just make sure that you choose the right carpeting and pad materials. Go with the materials that you know are green or work with your flooring specialist if you want to hear about additional options. You can also try visiting http://www.nationalcarpetmilloutlet.com to learn more about your carpeting options.